As the situation continues to deteriorate in Kashmir, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said, “Dialogue is the only way forward to get J&K out of the web of uncertainties”.
“Despite the two countries having fought four wars over J&K, it continues to bleed and that is why dialogue with all stakeholders in the State has been prioritised in the Agenda of Alliance of the present government,” Ms. Mufti told a special session of the State Assembly, called to discuss the GST. Blaming the National Conference for the “current mess”, she said, “The present state of uncertainty here has its roots in muzzling of dissent as a result of which many people who wanted to join mainstream politics were forced to choose otherwise. Had democratic exercises like 1987 election been conducted fairly, we would not have seen the terrible phases.”