Hakim asks voters to stay away from elections, polling

Srinagar/April 5:   Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) chairman and MLA Khansahib Hakim Mohammad Yasin has said that he does not support any of the contesting candidates in the ongoing Lok Sabha By-election in Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary constituencies and said that tourism can’t be substitute to Kashmir resolution as hinted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to a rally in Udhampur after inaugurating Nashri-Chenani tunnel.
Yasin in a statement issued here on Wednesday said that certain groups are creating in a impression that he is supporting one or the other candidate but the same is far from truth and baseless. He said “I don’t support any of the poll contestants in the ongoing Lok Sabha by-elections as I have clarified it several times in recent days also. I have impressed upon my voters, party workers and sympathizers to stay away from the ongoing Lok Sabha by-elections”.
While reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent assertions during his visit to the State, Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) president and MLA Khansahib Hakim Mohammad Yasin Wednesday said that tourism will work only when there is peace.
Modi has on Sunday said that Kashmir youths have two options: tourism and terrorism.
Yasin said, “Kashmiris are not terrorists but want resolution of long pending dispute. The way Modiji spoke in Udhampur will only increase the people especially youth. History is witness that Kashmir is a dispute and needs a resolution. Kashmir dispute isn’t today’s issue but is alive since 1947. It is even in the United Nations.”
“Instead of threatening, ways and means have to be found to address Kashmir-issue. Tourism will work only when there is peace,” he said.
Stating that the dialogue was the only way forward to settle issues on both internal and external fronts, the PDF chief said, “Kashmir issue is the root cause of problem between India and Pakistan and without its solution the peace in south Asia will remain a distant dream. It is duty of the leadership of both the countries to take the Kashmiris into confidence and settle the issue according to their aspirations once for all.”
He said it is Kashmiris who is the worst sufferer because of hostilities between the two countries. “Violence is no answer to any issue. Non-seriousness of Indo-Pak to resolve the Kashmir is the main reason for the present mess Kashmir is in,” the MLA Khansahib added.
He urged the Prime Minister Modi to work like a statesman and take steps for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. “Modiji is a strong PM and has strong mandate. He only can solve Kashmir issue, if he is willing. History is witness that no issue in the world has been settled through wars. War only brings destruction. India and Pakistan have fought three wars and after every war, they had to come on the negotiation table. Confrontation and hostility between New Delhi and Islamabad have not yielded favourable results for either country in the past. I appeal leadership of both the countries to shun the violence and come on negotiation table for the settlement of vexed Kashmir issue,” the MLA Khansahib added.