J&K Chief Minister meets Prime Minister over violence in the Valley

New Delhi: Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Minister Modi and appealed to him to try to put an end to violence in the Valley. The meeting lasted for an hour, after which while speaking to the media, Mufti strongly criticized Pakistan. She also stated that PM Modi wanted to initiate talks with Pakistan, but the latter did not take its benefit. While appealing to the central government, she emphasized that bringing back peace in J&K is everyone’s responsibility. Having said this, she also targeted the separatist leaders for encouraging violence in the Valley.

J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti visited PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi on the backdrop of ongoing violence in Jammu & Kashmir since more than a month now. She appealed to the Prime Minister that as he had come to power through full majority in the elections, he should use this opportunity and help solve the Kashmir issue by holding talks with all the concerned parties. She also pointed out that the Prime Minister had even tried to have a dialogue with Pakistan. She however highlighted that it was very regretful, to see the unsuitable treatment given to Indian Home Minister, when he visited Pakistan. Thus she also blamed Pakistan for obstructing the peace talks with India.

She continued accusing Pakistan for encouraging violence in the Valley and appealed them to stop such activities. She also cited that it is important that the separatist leaders, who encourage youth to stone pelting, respond to the central government’s proposal for negotiation; otherwise the talks would never materialize. She also expressed regrets for the death of all the young Kashmir is who resorted to violence by fighting the Army and Police forces.

Meanwhile, Pakistan had shown interest in initiating talks on Kashmir issue and had invited PM Modi for the SAARC conference in Pakistan. India has already confirmed that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would not be attending the SAARC meeting to be held in Islamabad, to which Pakistan retorted saying that Jaitley’s absence would not make any difference whatsoever. It looks like the invitation to PM Modi is in this context. However, considering the strained relations between both the countries it seems highly unlikely that Modi will attend this meeting in Pakistan.