Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Saturday asked PM Modi to announce the withdrawal of AFSPA from the state and resumption of composite dialogue with Pakistan during his rally in Srinagar.
Abdullah wrote on Facebook that the financial packages haven’t changed the nature of the problem in Kashmir.
“Three things I’d like to see in the PM’s speech today –
One – a firm announcement with time frame for the phased withdrawal of AFSPA.
Two – an unconditional invitation to separatists to come forward and open a dialogue with the centre aimed at involving them in finding a political solution to the internal dimension of the Kashmir Issue.
Three – a resumption of the Composite Dialogue with Pakistan to discuss all outstanding issues without giving in to the temptation to put Kashmir on the back burner, as was done in Ufa. This must include an assurance that henceforth extraneous factors like Pakistan meeting Hurriyat leaders will not be allowed to derail this process.
These three announcements or at the very least a combination of two out of these three will lift the PM’s speech to one of historic importance. Anything less will be a tragic loss of a great opportunity.
The clamp down on the people of Srinagar in the run up to today’s public meeting has certainly been historic, I hope that’s not the only history written today.”
