Pulwama: Peoples Democratic Party President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti advocated an unrelenting peaceful struggle for the restoration of democratic and constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a convention of party workers of District Pulwama, Mehbooba said people of Kashmir should not let despair decide their destiny but rather strengthen their resolve, unify their ranks and articulate their pain vociferously. On youngsters taking to gun, she said that gun is no solution to any problem and “we should always keep peaceful means as our lodestar and not lose sight of the fact that there are elements who wish to bracket us as violent and extremist so as to delegitimize our aspirations and our struggle.”
Pointing to how farmers have mobilized and successfully rallied the whole world behind their cause, she said that the discipline underpinning the farmer’s movement is something worth emulating.
“Apart from robbing us of our constitutional rights we have witnessed the loot of our resources and our economy being crushed. The Horticulture sector which forms the backbone of our economy has not been spared either. By allowing apple produce from Iran to flood the market & our own crop destroyed by supply of spurious pesticides, the nefarious designs are being implemented. This also seems to be a part of the scripted scheme to pulverize our economy. The need is to stand up in unison and struggle for our rights, identity and the future of our coming generations,” she said.
Reaffirming that dialogue and reconciliation is the only way to bring about peace and prosperity not only to the people of J&K but the whole of subcontinent, Mehbooba said that they she would continue to advocate dialogue between India and Pakistan no matter how disliked the idea be with some vested interests.
“The recent joint statement of DGMOs of Indo-Pak Armies is a case in point. We want them to take this forward to the highest levels and also engage with the people of Jammu & Kashmir constructively respecting their dignity,” she added.
