Both factions of the Hurriyat on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “look beyond the Indian Constitution” for a lasting solution to the Kashmir problem.
“If a lasting and permanent solution to the Kashmir problem could be found within the Indian Constitution, then it would have happened. Kashmir, in fact, is ruled by that Constitution for the last 70 years but still suffers immensely, particularly for the past three decades,” Hurriyat faction chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told The Hindu .
Asking Mr. Modi to “look beyond the Constitution”, the Mirwaiz said, “Fifth generation since 1947 would not be on the streets for the past month and a half, braving bullets and pellets, being killed, blinded and maimed, had a solution being worked out by allowing a trilateral dialogue among the real stakeholders — India, Pakistan and people of Kashmir.”
He said closing eyes to the ground realities and parroting a script would not lead to any breakthrough.
“Boldness is needed to address the issue head on, with a view to finding a final resolution. The most democratic way forward is to hold a referendum,” he said.
Hurriyat faction chief Syed Ali Geelani asked Mr. Modi “to shun state violence and uphold international law”.
‘Stick to U.N. charter’“Respect and adhere to the United Nations charter, especially resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir. The universal principle, right to self-determination, is the only road through which peace can be achieved in J&K,” Mr. Geelani said.
Reach out: MehboobaBuoyed by Mr. Modi’s statement on Kashmir, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called for “reaching out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir through substantive political and economic measures to address anger and alienation and find a lasting solution”.
“The prevailing painful situation in Kashmir necessitates reaching out to all shades of the political opinion and initiating substantive political and economic measures to revive and consolidate the peace and resolution process,” the Chief Minister said.
Published - August 23, 2016 01:38 am IST
