Mehbooba Mufti has backed the security forces action in controlling the unrest in Kashmir.
Highlights
- Mehbooba Mufti appealed to Hurriyat in getting peace back on the streets
- Ms Mufti also met PM Modi to discuss situation in Kashmir
- She presented a 'three point plan' to help deescalate tension in Valley
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today sought the help of separatist Hurriyat Conference in ending violent protests in the state, after a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi.
"Everyone wants the bloodshed to stop. But dialogue can only happen with those who want it. I appeal to the Hurriyat to help in getting peace back on the streets, to stop the killings," Ms Mufti said.
Addressing the protesters directly, Ms Mufti said, "I appeal to all the boys who are out on the street, to everyone. I may have got angry with you and you may be angry with me, but give me a chance".
According to sources, Ms Mufti presented a 'three point plan' to help deescalate tension in the Valley in a 45-minute meeting with the Prime Minister. An important plank of the plan, sources have told NDTV, is opening up a Track 2 dialogue with the hardline Hurriyat Conference. The BJP and the PDP have already started discussing names of potential interlocutors who are outside the government.
"There will be talks with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir. There needs to be an institution for it," Ms Mufti said after the meeting.
Ms Mufti said the agenda of the alliance between her party PDP and the BJP has not been followed but she now has PM Modi's assurance that will be pushed.
In Srinagar, senior PDP leader Dr Mehboob Beg, also appealed to hardline Hurriyat leader, Syed Ahmed Shah Geelani to treat Ms Mufti as his own daughter.
"Geelani sahab must think of Mehbooba Mufti as his daughter, who also happens to be the first Kashmiri Muslim woman to lead our state," Mr Beg said today.
Kashmir has been under curfew for the last 50 days since protest broke out over the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8. Around 70 people have died since and over 11,000 been injured in clashes.
Speaking to NDTV, BJP's Shrikant Sharma said, "Dialogue with all stakeholders is written in the agenda of alliance with PDP. But it can only happen when the 5 per cent who are instigating violence stop fanning hatred."
On Wednesday, during his visit to Srinagar, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said that the Centre was open to talks with all stakeholders in Kashmir, but declined to answer when asked whether he included the Hurriyat as a stakeholder.
An all-party delegation is expected to visit Kashmir in the first week of September.