J-K CM Mehbooba appeals to separatist Geelani to give her a chance

“Geelani Sahab must think of Mehbooba as his daughter, who also happens to be the first Kashmiri Muslim woman to lead J&K,” he said.

SRINAGAR: Hours after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the prevailing unrest in Kashmir with him, her party PDP appealed hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani to give her a chance.

Senior PDP leader  and former parliament member, Dr Mehboob Beg in a statement issued here appealed Syed Ali Geelani, who along with other separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik is spearheading the ongoing agitation, to cooperate in this regard and give Mehbooba the opportunity that she deserves.

“Geelani Sahab must think of Mehbooba as his daughter, who also happens to be the first Kashmiri Muslim woman to lead J&K,” he said.

Mehbooba has drawn flak in Kashmir for her recent statement of justifying the civilian killings at the hands of security forces. While addressing a joint press conference with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Srinagar few days back, Mehbooba had said, “ "Had a kid gone to buy a toffee from an army camp and had a 15-year-old boy gone to buy milk from the police station in south Kashmir.”

The PDP spokesman said Mehbooba is not the conventional politician, that people deal with most of the times. “In case she does not bring about a change, she will be the first to own up and make way”.

“I appeal Geelani Sahab to give her (Mehbooba) a chance as she understands the pain and pulse of the people as she has risen from the grass roots”, Beg said.

He said it would be fair that they give her a chance that she thoroughly deserves as the Chief Minister of the state, who has risen from the grass roots. “She is not asking for the moon, she is merely seeking a chance and an opportunity to perform and address the problems faced by the people, we must give her that chance and then judge her,” added Beg.

Kashmir is witnessing unrest since killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces July 8. At least 71 people including two policeman have been killed and thousands others injured in the ongoing cycle of violence in the Valley.

The curfew, restrictions and shutdown have remained in force in Valley for last 50 days.

Mehbooba today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in national capital and discussed the prevailing unrest in the Valley.

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