Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reached out to people of the embattled Kashmir Valley, seeking their cooperation in restoration of peace through “dialogue” and “democracy” and invoked former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s famous mantra of ‘insaniyat (humanity), jamhuriyat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat’ for ushering in a new chapter in the history of the State.
In a clear reference to the demand for “azadi” resonating in some quarters of the Valley, the PM said that people of Jammu & Kashmir have the same freedoms as enjoyed by every Indian.
Modi was here to kick off a 15-day exercise — ‘70 Saal Azadi-Zara Yaad Karo Qurbani’ — a BJP initiative to commemorate the Independence Day. Speaking on the day Mahatma Gandhi had given the call for the British to ‘Quit India’ in 1942, the Prime Minister asked the countrymen to take up the cause of nation building and live up to the ideals of freedom fighters.
Breaking his silence on the month-long turmoil that claimed around 55 lives, left hundreds of people injured, and saw the continuation of curfew in large part of the Valley, Modi signalled that the Centre was ready to explore other options than seeking a solution through massive deployment of the police, paramilitary and Army.
This was the first time the PM was addressing the Kashmir issue in the aftermath of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani by security forces on July 8 that triggered massive protests across the Valley.
Modi took the peace initiative a day after Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti appealed him to take steps to “win the heart of the people” and the Opposition parties also called for holding dialogues with all stakeholders to defuse the situation.
Describing Kashmir as ‘heaven on the earth’, Modi said it was painful to see innocent youngsters, who should be holding laptops, books and cricket bats, “handed” stones and appealed to them for maintaining peace and harmony.
Modi also asserted that the Mehbooba Mufti Government and the Centre are working together to solve the State’s difficulties but some people, who are unable to digest it, are clinging onto the path to destruction.
“When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister he had adopted the path of insaniyat, jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat and we walk the same road. I want to tell the brothers and sisters of Kashmir from this great birthplace of Chandra Shekhar Azad that Kashmir has the same strength that has been given to (other parts of) India by our freedom fighters. Kashmir has the same freedom that every Indian feels.
“Today, one feels pained to see that innocent youths have been handed stones. Politics of some people is clicking but what will happen to these gullible and simple youths. Humanity and Kashmiriyat will not be allowed to be hit. The path of democracy and dialogue is there,” he said.
Asserting that the State Government, in which the BJP is a partner, along with the Centre, is working towards the State’s development, he said his Government would do everything in this regard and will help lawyers, doctors, those depending on tourism and apple growers in their endeavours.
“Our Kashmir is heaven for the countrymen. Every Indian has a dream to travel to Kashmir some day. But we can see that a handful of people in Kashmir, which is loved by India so much... A few misled people are harming this great tradition,” he said.
“The common man in Kashmir wants peace,” said the PM, adding his Government wants to take Kashmir to new heights of development, empower its panchayats and give job opportunities to its youths. The Prime Minister complimented Mehbooba Mufti for ensuring that the Amarnath yatra continues despite the “malicious intentions” of a few people.
“Peace, unity and harmony in Kashmir... And I will especially call upon the youngsters of Kashmir that my friends let’s see to it that Kashmir remains heaven on earth. let’s move forward with this dream,” he said.
The PM hailed other political parties, especially Congress, for speaking in one voice on the Kashmir issue, calling it the strength of India. “We would like to move forward with this strength,” he said. “Governments of India and Jammu & Kashmir, besides 125 crore Indians, wish you well. They want your development. Whatever India has to give for your development, we are ready to give,” he said.
In Kashmir, there has been no dearth of people willing to die for the country, he said, asking the masses to join hands for nation-building.
Making special pitch for the apple trade, which forms the backbone of the State economy, Modi said the season was about to begin in a few days and the entire country was eagerly waiting to taste the apples from Kashmir. The people of Kashmir should ensure their efforts in growing them do not go waste, he said.”The efforts you have made, you must be paid for that,” he said while promising all necessary support from the Centre.
Modi also used the occasion to make an appeal to Maoists and militants to lay down their arms, asking them to reflect if violence has given them anything even though they lost so much. “Pick up plough and give up guns to turn the soil from red to green,” he said.