Srinagar, Jun 2: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has reached out to a wide spectrum of political and civil society leaders across Jammu and Kashmir, urging them to set aside differences and jointly engage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for initiating a sustained dialogue process on Jammu and Kashmir.
According to details available with news agency JKNS, Mehbooba Mufti has written letters to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra, CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, People’s Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone, MP Engineer Rashid, AAP leader Mehraj Malik, PDF Chairman Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, Panthers Party President Harsh Dev Singh, Shiv Sena (J&K) President Manish Sahni, Kashmiri Pandit leader Sanjay Tickoo and Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee Chairman Jaspal Singh.
In her communication to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mufti wrote, “I had sought an appointment with you but due to your preoccupation it has not been possible. Therefore I am taking the liberty of writing to you since time is running out and we cannot afford to delay things any further. Recent breakthroughs achieved by the Leh Apex Body & Kargil Democratic Alliancewith the Centre offer an important lesson – only dialogue can deliver meaningful outcomes.”
“Jammu & Kashmir finds itself yet again at a crossroads in its history where the pervasive feeling of despair & disillusionment has gripped the state,” letter addressed to CM wrote.
It necessitates a broad consensus above & across party & partisan lines to pull J&K out of the current debilitating stalemate. If we want to restore the dignity & security of our people, a constructive dialogue with Government of India is a much needed imperative. The time has come to make a united outreach to the Hon’ble Prime Minister & Hon’ble Home Minister and prevail upon them to initiate a sustained dialogue with the people of Jammu & Kashmir, it reads.
We have to keep our disagreements & contrarian views on the back-burner to unite for the common good & collective welfare. This cannot become a matter of appropriating political credit or point scoring. Rather it must become a moment of unification in the largest interest of people we all claim to represent, letter reads.
I therefore urge you as head of state to initiate the much needed process of bringing all parties together through an official meeting. This will set the ball rolling for us to formally reach out to the Central Government. Given the fact that disagreements & squabbling between regional parties have been detrimental to the collective interests of J&K a reasonable consensus especially post 2019 is the only solution. If Ladakh could do it so can we, it reads.
However your support is a prerequisite for the success of this political platform. Genuine unity in these difficult unprecedented times can lead us towards restoring our rights and dignity of our people guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. Since your busy schedule did not permit us to meet in person I thought it’s best to bring your urgent attention to this matter. I do hope & sincerely request you to immediately call a formal meeting that includes political parties across Jammu & Kashmir. We simply cannot drag our feet any longer, it reads.
I am also attaching, for your reference, the list of parties I have reached out to. Kindly feel free to include any additional parties that you believe should be part of this initiative, letter reads. (JKNS)
