Srinagar
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said that we need to replace the idea of ‘Azad Kashmir’ with a better idea within the framework of the Indian Constitution.
While sharing her views on Kashmir during the event titled “The Way Forward” organized by Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Mumbai, Mehbooba said: “There is total distrust and disconnect between people of Kashmir and Delhi. They look inwards or outwards (outside the border) for support.”
“During the time of Vajpayee, the people of Kashmir thought of him as a leader who cared. Even Pakistan responded positively resulting in a reduction of militancy and ceasefire,” ORF tweeted quoted Mehooba as saying.
“Between 2002-05, it was the golden period of Kashmir, since for the first time the CM of Kashmir and PM of India were on the same page,” said Mehbooba.
#TwitterLive → Ms @MehboobaMufti, President of @jkpdp shares her views on ❛#Kashmir – The Way Forward❜. (Thread) pic.twitter.com/1ph5RhMnlJ
— ORF Mumbai (@ORFMumbai) December 14, 2018
“After the 2014 elections, we joined hands with the BJP. It was suicide, but we put everything on the line because we hoped that Modi will pick up where Vajpayee ji left. Unfortunately, Modi ji could not rise to the occasion,” she added. “Governance is only possible if you have peace.”
“Kashmiris are the sufferers. Till when will our people keep witnessing this farce of people getting killed?” Mehbooba said. “We need to replace the idea of ‘Azad Kashmir’ with a better idea within the framework of the Indian Constitution. We cannot go back to 1947, we have to move forward.”
.@MehboobaMufti: During the time of Vajpayee, the people of Kashmir thought of him as a leader who cared. Even Pakistan responded positively resulting in reduction of militancy and ceasefire. #Kashmir
— ORF Mumbai (@ORFMumbai) December 14, 2018
“Personally, I feel that SAARC countries are being held hostage to the animosity between India and Pakistan. For example, why can’t we have a SAARC Handicrafts University in Kashmir?” Mehbooba said. “Thank God we are living in a democracy where people are allowed to vote and not cows.”
Mehbooba said the alliance between Congress, NC and PDP is the need of the hour. “India is never an issue during Pakistan elections. However, that is not the case in India.”
Mehbooba in her speech said: “It is for the country to rise up, reach the Kashmiris and find a solution. All the SAARC nations must come together and make Jammu & Kashmir a model of cooperation.”
“Unfortunately, the Media which is an important stakeholder in this discussion, is only adding fuel to the fire. The shaking of fists and shouting at one another is not representative of the real Kashmir. We need to change the discourse,” ORF quoted Mehbooba in a tweet as having said. “If Kartarpur can be opened, why not other roads? We need to restore the roads that connect Jammu & Kashmir with Central Asia.”
