Centre will have to apply balm on wounds of Kashmiris: CM

Nagrota (Jammu): The central leadership will have to take “one or more steps” than Pakistan to “apply balm on the wounds” of Kashmiris, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said today and hoped that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will use his mandate to save the lives and future of children of Kashmir.

“I met Prime Minister recently. I have full hope that the mandate and power he has, he (PM) will use that power to save the lives and future of children of Kashmir,” she said here while speaking at inauguration of building of Food Craft Institute.

“May be we (Government of India) have to take one or more steps than our neighbouring country (Pakistan) as Jammu and Kashmir is our state and we have to apply balm on wounds of the people,” she added.

“To apply balm on the wounds of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, not only the Prime Minister or NDA government but the entire leadership of the country, Congress, CPI(M), JDU etc should come forward and support the peace building initiative,” Mehbooba said.

She said Modi has the mandate to take bold decisions on the lines of Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the resolution of the problems in and around Jammu and Kashmir.

“We have to ensure that a credible mechanism for dialogue, reconciliation and resolution is put in place and it should not be like the half-hearted efforts made in similar situations after 2008 and 2010 unrest,” she said and called for creating conducive atmosphere fordialogue.

PTI