Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi “the man of the moment” and said he had the potential to become the “man of history” by taking Kashmir out of the “mess”.
Speaking at a public event, “Understanding Kashmir — a composite dialogue on peace, stability and a way forward”, at India International Centre, she also said National Investigation Agency (NIA)’s crackdown on the separatists is only an “administrative measure” while reviving talks with Pakistan and “dialogue” with other stakeholders was necessary for the resolution of larger Kashmir problem.
“Modi is the man of the moment and he has the potential to rise and become a man of history. His leadership is an asset, which needs to be harnessed. The democratically-elected Government needs to get together under his leadership to take Kashmir out of the mess,” Mehbooba said at a two-day event organised by BRIEF, a socio-economic consulting company.
She also defended her ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) underlining that the reason behind not delivering “agenda of alliance” was due to circumstances created by the “law and order situation” in Kashmir Valley.
The Valley has witnessed two violent summers after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and BJP formed a coalition Government in 2015. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh made several visits to discuss the law and order situation in the Valley in the recent past.
She said that the “idea of India” was incomplete without the “idea of Kashmir”.
“There is an emotional leak with respect to Kashmir but there are people in the country who are concerned about us. Kashmir is an idea like the idea of India so the basic question is how much is the idea of India ready to accommodate the idea of KashmirIJ” Mehbooba asked.
She said taking the path of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee by engaging in the dialogue process with Pakistan was the only way forward.
Citing the lahore declaration in which Pakistan had assured that it will not allow its land to be used against anti-India activities, Mehbooba said, “In spite of Kargil war and attack on Parliament, Vajpayee went ahead with lahore declaration. The PDP-BJP alliance has to revive the same Vajpayee magic. If we want that the closed roads in Jammu & Kashmir open, Pakistan’s positive contribution is very necessary,” she added.
She said the idea of Azadi in Kashmir has to be replaced with “something better”.
“We have to replace the idea of azadi or separation, secession by a better idea. Are we ready to do thatIJ Or are we just going to depend on the administrative measures to tackle the situation. You may be able to contain the situation. For the last 70 years, we have not been able to address it,” Mehbooba stressed while referring to the measures of security, siege on separatists and other armed measures taken to control the situation in Kashmir. “The raids of NIA on separatists were a part of the same administrative measures,” she added
Defending her alliance with the BJP in terms of deliverance of their agenda of alliance, Mehbooba said the situation was not conducive because of which law and order took the priority and other things went to the back burner. It is a disappointing thing but I do not blame the BJP leadership alone. I also think that the circumstances did not give us enough time.”
The event was attended by known civil society faces, including politicians and journalists. Senior Journalist Shujaat Bukhari moderated the first panel discussion. On Saturday, former J&K Chief Minister and Beerwah MlA Omar Abdullah will preside over the event.
She expressed her concern over the tampering with the Article 35A that gives special status to J&K under Article 370, and that its constitutional validity has been challenged in the Supreme Court by way of a PIl.
“Who is doing itIJ Why are they doing itIJ... The separatists’ agenda is different and it is totally secession. But you are weakening those powers which are Indian and trust India and participate in elections (by challenging the Article 35A),” she said. The chief minister warned if there is an alteration in the special status of the state, there could be a revolt. “If any attempt is made... India will not get a shoulder to carry its national flag in the state,” she said.
Hitting out some national TV Channels, Mufti said “the image of projective through the prime time news these days is not the real idea of India.”