Srinagar: Alleging that the ‘state terrorism’ was responsible for the grim situation in the valley, National Conference (NC) leader and MLA Mohammad Shafi Uri said that Kashmir is a political issue and can’t be resolved through use of force.
“Scores of innocent civilians have been killed and thousands injured in security force action since July last year and this year, educational institutes have remained mostly closed due to the unrest in the valley, Mr Shafi said while participating in the obituary reference in the Legislative Assembly Saturday.
He said the situation is grim in Kashmir and if the government doesn’t take measures soon it could further worsen.
The former NC minister alleged that the government has forgotten the “Agenda of Alliance” and don’t have a roadmap to restore normalcy in the valley. “The Union Home Minister has been claiming daily that solution to Kashmir issue will be found”, he said adding but, the centre has refused to hold talks, which is essence of the democracy,” he said.
“How the centre and the state governments are claiming that they are working to resolve Kashmir issue, when there are no talks with any stakeholder,” he said.
If you are not talking then how are you going ahead, he asked.
Expressing surprise over the approach of the centre towards the valley, Mr Uri, who is a former minister, said if New Delhi can hold talks in North East why is it using the strong arm tactics in Kashmir.
The NC leader urged the government to mend its ways and make atmosphere conducive for talks so that more lives are not lost.
“Kashmir has a resistance movement which cannot be crushed by the power. The government must talk to the people even though they have a different point of view,” he said.
