New Delhi:
In his closing remarks at a meeting of representatives of various political parties from Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "If there is consensus among political parties on autonomy for the state, then it can be considered within the ambit of the Constitution." The BJP has questioned the PM's statement and has demands an explanation from him.
The PM also said he was aware of the alienation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and that it had to be removed. "People of the state must have a life of self-respect and dignity," he said.
Noting that a "political solution" is the key to the problem in Kashmir, Singh made it clear that nothing will be done outside the framework of the Constitution.
"We are all servants of the Constitution. There are many shades of opinion in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir. I and my senior ministers present here show our seriousness in addressing the issues," he said.
Central Ministers Pranab Mukherjee, A K Antony, P Chidambaram, S M Krishna and Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were present at the meeting at the Prime Minister's House on Tuesday night, which lasted for four hours.
Among those participating from the state were National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, CPM leader Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami, Independent MLAs Ghulam Hasan Mir, Congress leader Saif-ud-din Soz, BJP leader Chaman Lal Gupta and Panthers Party Chief Bhim Singh. The state's main opposition PDP however kept away.
PM'S PEACE BALM FOR KASHMIR'S ANGRY YOUTHIn his opening remarks telecast live to a national audience, the PM said "I understand the pain and anger of the young people."
(Read Full Text)
Speaking in Urdu, Manmohan Singh accepted that mistakes had been made and referring repeatedly to Kashmir's generation next, conceded that there were no easy solutions in sight. "The solution has to be political and through dialogue. We appeal to everyone to talk." In a state where security forces have been locked into hostile confrontation with the raw rage of street protesters, the PM indicated, with his Defence Minister present, "I am aware of the public sentiments on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act."
The two-month strife began in Kashmir with the death of 17-year-old Tufail Mattoo, a boy who was walking back home from a tuition class when a tear gas shell, apparently meant for a protesting mob, burst his head open.
From then, angry young men have poured out on to the streets in defiance of not just the curfew, but possible death itself and it was to them that the Prime Minister sought to speak directly in his address.
The Kashmir that watched and listened to every word was no longer the Valley of 1990, when the separatist movement first erupted. Or even 2000, when militancy was the biggest challenge. This is Kashmir in 2010, where despite having the youngest Chief Minister in the country, it is the young men and women, who have lived in the shadow of conflict since they were born, that India has to find a way of talking to.