New Delhi: Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, at his 7 Race Course Road residenceto discuss about unrest in Kashmir. Mehbooba blamed Pakistan for instigating unrest in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehbooba told reporter after her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here that youth in the Kashmir were attacking security forces and police stations after being provoked by Pakistan and separatist leaders. “I want to tell Pakistan, if it has any sympathy for Kashmiris, it shouldn’t provoke them to attack police stations and save youth from being killed,” the Chief Minister said.
The meeting with Modi came just two days after Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Srinagar during which he met with Mehbooba, among others, as the Valley continued to remain on the boil and curfew continued for the 50th day. Mehbooba also called for talks between interlocutors and all stakeholders on the Kashmir issue and said, “Separatists should come forward and help Jamuu and Kashmir government in saving innocent lives.”
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said she was happy the central government was reaching out to all stakeholders to restore peace in the troubled state. “I have high hopes from the prime minister.” Mehbooba did not mention any security measures that will be taken by the state or the central governments to quell the violence and unrest in Kashmir, instead harped on about how Pakistan has been trying to thwart peace talks with India.
This is the first time that the two leaders have met since the crisis in Kashmir began more than a month ago, with the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani on 8 July. Nearly 70 people have been killed in clashes with security forces.
According to official sources, Mehbooba was conveyed in no uncertain terms that there was a need for putting an end to the cycle of violence, which has claimed 67 lives so far. The CM has been under fire for failing to control the violence as the Centre has made it clear that law and order is a state subject.
