12 militants returned home in 3 months
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Tuesday promised youth that if they help her keep peace in Kashmir, she would work toward resolution of Kashmir and revival of former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Kashmir and Pakistan policy.
“If you help me, I promise you revival of policy started by Vajpayee, who started dialogue with the neighbouring country and said people of Jammu Kashmir are our own people and we have to start with them,” she said addressing a convention of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youth workers at her Fair View residence at Gupkar.
The chief minister said the peace process started by her party in 2002 got stuck after her father, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed lost his chair in the transfer of power in 2005 and the subsequent governments made no progress even with their initiatives of opening of roads between New Delhi and Islamabad.
She said if peace process starts in the State, it would create friendly atmosphere between New Delhi and Pakistan. “Peace in the State alone can ensure that political process takes off and more opportunities of employment for the youth are created,” she said.
The PDP leader said it pains her to see youth who used to be her bodyguards when she wouyld visit villages carrying stones in their hands and urged them to give her a chance.
She said the killings and injuries of the youth during 2016 were painful for her as she sees the people of Kashmir as her extended family.
“Give me a chance and I promise not to let you down,” the CM said as youth raised slogans, “Mehbooba Ji Kadam Badaav, Hum Tumhare Saath Hain.”
She said her government was working on a policy to provide jobs to the next of kin of victim families.
“Nobody wants to use pellets but you have to help me restore peace,” the PDP leader said and promised to withdraw cases against all youth since 2008 uprising who had minor charges against them.
She said unemployment was a major challenge for her government and promised to create jobs in Tourism, PHE and other sectors.
“I assure to bring the PM (Narendra Modi) here and persuade him to announce a job package but it will happen only when there is peace,” Mehbooba said.
She said she had also taken up the issue of creating more jobs with J&K Bank and asked them to open more branches.
The CM said if youth feel let down by her government, they can teach her a lesson in the next assembly elections but sought a chance till then.
She also promised to hold Panchayat polls soon to decentralise the governance system and appealed people to choose young, educated men.
Mehbooba said her father had taken an unpopular decision of stitching an alliance with the rightwing Bharatiya Janata Party for the sake of the youth and said she was hopeful that this decision would help in resolving Kashmir.
“For the past 70 years we have achieved nothing except for the opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and Poonch-Rawalakote road,” she said. “We had seen Congress at New Delhi do nothing on Kashmir for their 10 years in power and believe BJP can carry forward Vajpayee’s policies.”
Condemning the killings on the basis of political ideologies, the CM said Jammu Kashmir being a Muslim-majority state should set an example for others but there are people who believe killing a policeman or a Muslim killing a Muslim would be rewarded with a place in heaven and these are the people who made a hell of this heaven.
The CM said at least 12 youth who had picked up guns had returned to their homes during the past three months in peace after she had instructed security agencies to persuade local militant to surrender.
“Kashmir is full of graveyards but I want to make it a place of parks and gardens to help people breath a tension-free air,” she said.
MLA Wachi, Aijaz Ahmad Mir and MLA Rafiabad, Yawar Dilawar Mir and Secretary J&K State Sports Council, Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra also addressed the gathering.
