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Conducive atmosphere must be created for peace talks in Kashmir : CM Mehbooba Mufti tells PM Modi

by IBNS 24 Apr 2017, 12:00 am

New Delhi, Apr 22 (IBNS) : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the deteriorating situation in the state and called for creating a conducive atmosphere for peace talks in the violence-torn valley, reports said.

The Prime Minister reportedly told her that he would follow Atal Behari Vajpayee's policy of conciliation instead of confrontation to deal with the situation.

"Pehle humein situation ko sambhaalne dijiye, kyunki pattharbaazi aur goli ke mahaul mein baat nahin ho sakti (First, let us take control of the situation, otherwise it's not possible to talk when stone pelting and gun shots are going on)," Mufti told reporters after the meeting. 

"There was dialogue when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister and LK Advani his deputy. They even held dialogue with the Hurriyat and others," she said. 

"We must start from where Vajpayee ji left... Modi ji has repeatedly said that he would follow the footsteps of Vajpayee ji, whose policy was of reconciliation, not confrontation. There is no option but to talk," she said.  

"There are some youths who are disillusioned, others are being incited. We will work out something in the Unified command meet tomorrow," Mufti added. 

The Chief Minister also said that she discussed the recent by-poll to Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, which witnessed large-scale violence and the lowest turnout ever.

The Chief Minister also discussed the huge losses to the state due to the Indus water treaty.

 "I pressed that J&K doesn't have control over water resources, and how losses caused by Indus Waters Treaty can be compensated."

She said the Prime Minister has assured assistance in this regard.

Ahead of her meeting with the Prime Minister, Mehbooba also met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other top officials including NSA Ajit Doval and IB director.