Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday slammed Pakistan for “vitiating peaceful atmosphere and abetting militancy” in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating International Convention Centre at Jammu here, she said: “I really felt disheartened after I came to know about killing of BSF personnel in Bijebehara town of Kashmir.”
“I wonder why Pakistan is disturbing peaceful atmosphere in this state when they themselves are grappling with terrorism. School children are being targeted in that country and they have launched a battle against the terrorists. But their attempts to disturb peace in J&K are beyond understanding,” she said.
“It may be true that during ‘90s Kashmiris faced injustice, oppression from both the sides, but situation is changing now. But elements inimical to peace are unable to digest this,” she said.
“You think weapons will change the destiny of this country or Pakistan? Obviously not. If it is so, it could have happened way back as we have lost more than 70000 innocent lives in incidents of violence. The solution lies in peace, for which both the countries should make efforts,” the CM said
She said that if Pakistan continues to involve its men and machinery in “abetting violence by plotting attacks like Pathankot and now in Kashmir, consequences would be dangerous for that country also.”
“You (Pakistan) used to say you love Jammu and Kashmir. I wonder what kind of love is this that you are disturbing peace here and targeting security personnel who are posted in Kashmir, not by their own choice but for earning bread for their family members,” she further said, adding, “I strongly condemn this attack”.
She also held Pakistan responsible for “ruining tourism industry in Jammu and Kashmir.”
On establishment of colonies for Kashmiri Pandits, she said: “Why people are making hue and cry over this by calling shutdowns when we are not mulling to establish any colony in valley?”
She said when workers of PDP, NC, Congress and other political parties—being Muslims—are not safe and are residing in hotels with their PSOs, “how the state could settle Pandits all of a sudden in their native villages?”
“Stop befooling people in the name of Hartals over useless issues,” Mehbooba said, appealing people to “fight the nefarious designs of such people and unite for the development of the state.”
