Mufti expresses dismay at negative politics of BJP over Kashmir

Jammu, December 25 (Scoop News)   – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said Kashmir problem cannot be wished away and the first major realization of this fact was articulated by none other than the former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.who had initiated a process of resolution through dialogue and reconciliation.

In a statement in Jammu Mufti has expressed dismay at the negative political position the BJP was adopting over Kashmir. Commenting on the revival of hard line attitude of the party he said it was sad the main opposition was trying to destroy the national consensus on resolution of Jammu & Kashmir problem initiated by none other than its patriarch Atal Behari Vajpayee.

 He said that it was unfortunate that the claimants to Vajpayee’s legacy were now trying to wreck any chances of its success.Recalling how Vajpayee had taken a bold initiative on Kashmir at a time when India and Pakistan were in a dangerous combat position, Mufti said the former prime minister had reached out to people of the state at a time when a PDP and congress coalition was at the helm.

 “He had risen above petty partisan considerations and responded in a dignified manner to the urge for peace and resolution that he gauged on his visit to Srinagar” Mufti said expressing concern at how the present party leadership was negating all the gains flowing out of the initiatives of its own erstwhile government Mufti said the peace process in Kashmir and with Pakistan could make some progress only hen the UPA then in opposition had extended a wholehearted support to it.

 It was later  continued for some time with significant gains that could have been path breaking if continued with same spirit of accommodation he said Underlining the need for living the spirit of consensus on Kashmir, Mufti  said while the misery and pain of people of the state should itself have been enough to stir the political class of the country into proactive resolution effort, larger impact of the problem on regional peace and progress made it all the more necessary for them to sink differences on the issue. It was strange that they should instead be trying to run each other down and in the process hold the state and the region to ransom, he added.

 Mufti said the campaign launched by the BJP in the state had the potential of degenerating into a divisive discourse that would be the last thing that people of Jammu and Kashmir ever needed. He said while the day to day priorities of the political parties kept changing  in accordance with political dynamics,problems like Kashmir needed a consistent and consensual approach as it touched the lives of millions of people.

 They should in a truly democratic system be urging the government to come out of its cosmetic exercises on Kashmir, resume dialogue with separatists that was initiated by Advani, stop excesses committed by an insensitive coalition and reduce miseries of the people reeling under corruption  inefficiency and  indifference, he said.

“It is therefore  necessary that the leaders like LK Advani raise the debate to dignified political levels and use their prestige and stature for onward movement in the resolution effort”, he hoped The BJP and other NDA constituents should in fact be mounting pressure on  he government to fast track the peace process with Pakistan and inside the state, Mufti said.

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