Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday chaired a meeting of senior Peoples Democratic Party leaders — the first in the ongoing 78-day long unrest — and called for a “renewed efforts to maintain peace” as the party’s image was dented due to civilian killings.
Chairing the meeting at her official residence here, Ms. Mufti asked party cadres “to work once again for creating an amicable atmosphere to revive peace and reconciliation process started in 2003.”
Referring to the ongoing street violence, she said: “Hostile atmosphere will one day have to yield a place to reason and reconciliation … My government is not looking out for a temporary truce but would focus on building an environment where such turbulences never visit the people again.”
She stressed that “effective implementation of the ‘Agenda of the Alliance’ needs a congenial atmosphere within and around the State.” Blaming Pakistan for turning down peace overtures, the Chief Minister said the initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi were unfortunately responded with “negativity and even hostility by Islamabad.”
“I am confident that the way forward for everybody is through acceptance of ground realities and offering relief, hope and dignity to people,” she added.
Sources said many legislators referred to fresh challenges posed by the growing anger against the party.
South Kashmir, considered a PDP bastion, has witnessed more than 50 deaths out of 88. Hundreds of civilians have been arrested in an attempt to quell street protests.
Reprimands legislatorsAs most MLAs find it hard to reach out to people due to the turmoil, Ms. Mufti asked ministers to make themselves more accessible to people and interact more with them.
She expressed her concern over serious setback to tourism, transport, commerce and horticulture due to ongoing unrest.
Senior PDP leader and Member of Parliament Muzaffar Hussain Beigh , who also spoke on the occasion, said: “Ms. Mufti will lead people out of this morass and quagmire. Resolution of the Kashmir issue is a must to ensure sustainable peace and development in the State.”
