Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on Kashmir in his Independence Day speech.
“I all along believed that dialogue and peaceful means only can help in resolving issues as the futility of violence has been established all around,” Ms. Mufti said, referring to PM’s remark that “not bullets or abuse can resolve issues but by embracing people of Kashmir”.
The Mirwaiz, who was placed under house arrest, tweeted: “I welcome that Mr. Modi also believes goli [bullets] and gaali [abuses] will not help resolve Kashmir. If insaniyat [humanity] and insaaf [justice] replace these words, (a) resolution can become a reality.”
Earlier in her I-Day speech in Srinagar, Ms. Mufti called for protecting J&K’s special status and expressed hope that the Supreme Court, hearing a case on Article 35A, will “continue delivering justice to J&K in its historical perspective”.
Special status
“Entire political class of J&K is united in defending and preserving the special status. I was happy to note there was an overwhelming consensus on this issue,” said Ms. Mufti.
In a rare gesture, she praised former Chief Minister and Opposition National Conference president Farooq Abdullah. “Farooq sahib listened to me like an affectionate father on Article 370 and gave some suggestions on which I acted,” said Ms. Mufti.
She also hoped “Pakistan would also understand the need for peaceful engagement with India”. “Good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan are very crucial for J&K… Dialogue is only way out.”