Srinagar, Aug. 17 : An all-party delegation from Jammu and Kashmir led by former chief minister Omar Abdullah will meet President Pranab Mukherjee to apprise him about the prevailing situation in the Kashmir Valley.
The decision came at a meeting attended by members of the National Conference, Congress, Communist Party, Democratic Party Front, Awami Ittehad Party and People's Democratic Front participates here on Wednesday.
The members decided to seek a suitable time from President Mukherjee so that they can apprise him that the situation in the Valley is turning for the worse due to the non-stop killing of people.
"When you say Kashmir is an integral part of India, you are talking the land not of people. Make people yours too. A small problem with Gujarat and the Prime minister spoke to the people there in Gujarati; why our problem is not important enough," Omar asked.
"We want the Centre to take emergent steps to check excessive use of force. There is a need for a judicial probe into the Kashmir situation," said Omar, alleging that both the Central and state governments "totally failed" to stop the killings of civilians in the Valley.
Omar said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had been blaming Pakistan for the unrest. "Yes, they are playing a negative role, but it is the security forces who are killing youth and other people of the Valley," he said.
"Jammu and Kashmir is a political issue, and should be solved politically. But unfortunately, the Centre has been saying 'Kashmir is integral part of India'; they are not talking about the Valley people, they are only taking about the land of Kashmir," said Omar.
"So, we will try to meet leaders of all political parties in Delhi and also former judges of the Supreme Court urging them to help resolve this problem," he added.
Talking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Balochistan remarks, the former chief minister said, "If PM wishes to talk about Balochistan, he can; but he should also discuss the part of Jammu and Kashmir, which is burning." "Jab apne ghar mein aag lagi ho, to bajay apne ghar mein aag bujhane ke hum dusre ke ghar mein aag lagaane ka kaam kar rhe hain.
(When our own home his burning, instead of dousing that fire, we are trying to set on fire to the other's house)," he added.
When asked about the dialogue process between India and Pakistan, he said, "We are supporters of a dialogue process between India and Pakistan, as we believe that dialogue is the only way forward.
It is responsibility of both Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif to create an atmosphere for a dialogue.
I hope that India and Pakistan will take requisite steps to improve the environment so that the dialogue is possible." Talking about the NC's role as the main opposition party, Omar said, "In last 40 days, we have played a positive role as a responsibly opposition party.
For (Chief Minister) Mehbooba Mufti, everyone is responsible for what is happening in the state, except herself." Holding Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti responsible for the unrest, the leader of opposition said, "She has played worst form of politics by holding everybody from Nehru to Modi (responsible for the Kashmir situation).
Unlike Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which actively lobbied for dismissal of my government, I neither sought the dismissal of Mehboobaji's government nor had asked for her resignation.
This is not a battle for chairs; this is about safeguarding the future generation of Jammu and Kashmir." As many as 65 have been killed and thousands of civilians and security personnel reported injured in protest-related violence following the encounter of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen poster boy Burhan Wani in July.
Speaking at the all-party on the Kashmir issue in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held Pakistan responsible for unrest in the Valley, and appealed the youth to shun violence.
He also asked the security forces to maintain a greater degree of restrain while dealing with protesters.
Speaking in both Houses of Parliament, Rajnath Singh too held Pakistan responsible for the Kashmir unrest, while expressing India's resolve to deal sternly with terrorists.
The Home Minister also asked security forces to exercise restraint as much as possible..
Source: ANI
