Mirwaiz, Mehbooba, Omar welcome PM Modi’s Kashmir outreach

“Welcome Modi also believes ‘Goli and Gaali’ will not help resolve Kashmir. If Insaniyat (humanity) and Insaaf  (justice) replace them, resolution can become a reality,” Mirwaiz tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the nation from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort on the occasion of the 71st Independence Day in New Delhi on Tuesday. | PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the nation from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort on the occasion of the 71st Independence Day in New Delhi on Tuesday. | PTI

SRINAGAR:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi's outreach to Kashmir in his Independence Day address on Tuesday in which he said bullets or abuses will not help resolve the problems of Kashmir has been welcomed by moderate separatist leader, J&K Chief Minister and opposition National Conference.

Moderate separatist leader and cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq welcomed PM Modi’s statement.

“Welcome Modi also believes ‘Goli and Gaali’ will not help resolve Kashmir. If Insaniyat (humanity) and Insaaf  (justice) replace them, resolution can become a reality,” Mirwaiz tweeted.

In his I-Day address, PM Modi said, "Na gaali se, na goli se, parivartan hoga gale lagaane se, samasya suljhegi har Kashmiri ko gale lagane se (problems of Kashmir cannot be addressed by either bullets or by abuses. The change can come by embracing all Kashmiris)."

J&K Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti also welcomed PM’s statement.

She said she has all along believed that dialogue and peaceful means only can help in resolving issues as the futility of violence has been established all around.

Mehbooba said the slogan, “Bandook say na goli say baat banay gi boli say” (Neither gun nor bullet but talk will help resolving issues)  coined by her party PDP some 15 years ago is as relevant today as it was then.

Opposition National Conference working president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said PM Modi's words for Kashmir have been very well received by people but everyone here is weary of yet more talk and no concrete action.

“Actually he said the Kashmir issue will not be resolved by abuse and bullets. I guess that covers both sides - terrorists and security forces,” he tweeted.

He said the proof of the pudding is in the eating. “We look forward to being embraced in the warm grip of understanding, acceptance and respect.

Omar said the respect must include respect for the unique status J&K enjoys within the Constitution of India that sets it apart from all other states.

The former CM also took a dig at news channels, saying without the “goli” and the “gaali” what happens to the TV news studios that specialise in deploying these weapons against all Kashmiris.

However, State Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir said Kashmiris cannot digest the statement of PM Modi, who has remained silent from last three years over killing and maiming of innocent people in the Valley.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com