Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday welcomed RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale’s remarks advocating dialogue with Pakistan and described engagement between the two countries as an essential component for lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehbooba said the PDP had consistently maintained that dialogue was the only way forward to improve the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
“There is no way without it (dialogue). You have seen that a small country like Iran and on the other hand, America, such a big superpower, and Israel, how many attacks they have done on Iran and now they want to resolve the issue through dialogue. Similarly, Operation Sindoor took place a year ago. I think there is a realisation from both sides, especially what the leader of the RSS has said, that we should talk to them. So, I think there is no other way. If we want to stay united and progress, then we have to do it,” she told reporters in Srinagar.
Her remarks came after Hosabale said India must respond firmly to cross-border terrorism while also keeping the doors for talks with Pakistan open.
Referring to former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s stand, she said peace and stability in the region could not be achieved without keeping channels of communication open with Pakistan.
“..Even former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had said that friends can be changed, but neighbours cannot,” she said.
Mehbooba said past peace initiatives between India and Pakistan during the tenures of Vajpayee and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had positively impacted Jammu and Kashmir by reducing militancy, arrests and civilian hardships.
She also alleged that Jammu and Kashmir was witnessing an “atmosphere of oppression,” claiming that people were being harassed in the name of anti-national activities. The PDP chief referred to arrests, dismissals of employees, bulldozing of houses and closure of institutions, alleging that such actions had created fear among people.
“Thousands of people are lodged in jails outside Jammu and Kashmir. There is surveillance, FIRs over social media posts and repeated use of laws like PSA and UAPA,” she claimed.
Referring to reports of informal engagements between retired diplomats and military officials from India and Pakistan in recent months, Mehbooba expressed hope that renewed dialogue between the two countries could help ease tensions and provide relief to people in Jammu and Kashmir.
When asked that ruling National Conference allegations that PDP issued maximum number of alcohol licences during their tenure, she said the BJP had been part of the government during the PDP’s tenure and the party lacked the numerical strength required to push through a prohibition policy.
“The National Conference today has around 50 MLAs. Their own MP, Aga Ruhullah, has said they promised people during the Assembly elections that liquor shops would be shut. These are his words, not mine,” she said.
Mehbooba added that if the PDP had enjoyed a similar majority, it could have taken stronger measures on the issue.
Referring to NC president Farooq Abdullah, she said earlier governments had also resisted prohibition due to revenue concerns.
She further argued that Jammu and Kashmir could have generated substantial revenue through its hydropower resources instead of depending on liquor sales. Targeting the NC leadership, Mehbooba alleged that key power projects were handed over to the NHPC during earlier NC-led governments.
“When Farooq Sahib became Chief Minister in 1996 and Omar Abdullah was a minister in the BJP-led government, seven power projects were handed over to NHPC. …Recently, even two more projects were handed over,” she claimed.
Mehbooba said retaining control over hydropower projects could have strengthened Jammu and Kashmir’s economy and reduced dependence on liquor revenue.
“If we had our own power projects, we would not need liquor shops for revenue, and even the electricity problem could have been addressed,” she added.
