PM’s mention of Kashmir situation in radio address welcomed

Srinagar : Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah today lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking up the Kashmir situation in his radio address, saying it was “good to see” him continuing from where he left after meeting the opposition parties from the state.

“Good to see @narendramodi ji continuing where he left off after meeting opposition parities in Delhi last Monday,” the NC leader said on Twitter after the Prime Minister’s radio address. Reacting to Modi’s observation on youth being pushed towards stone-pelting, Omar said it was due to “our collective mistakes”.

“Unfortunately sir a lot of these youngsters have been pushed there by our collective mistakes and mishandling of J&K,” situation, the National Conference working president said. In his ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address, the Prime Minister said, “Those pushing youth towards stone pelting in Kashmir will some day have to answer them.”

Omar in the past had criticised Modi for not making mention of the Kashmir situation in his earlier ‘Mann Ki Baat’ addresses. “How I wish my Prime Minister had found a few reassuring words for my state which has seen almost 50 deaths & countless injured #MannKiBaat,” Omar wrote on Twitter on July 31.

Kashmir has been witnessing unrest for the past 51 days triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8. As many as 68 persons have been killed and thousands others injured in violent clashes between protestors and security forces.