Mehbooba calls for ceasefire in J&K during Ramzan

The Centre and the militant leadership should respect the religious sensibilities of the people and give them a sense of relief through a ceasefire, the former CM urged.

Mehbooba Mufti. File

Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday urged the Centre to announce a ceasefire in J&K during the holy month of Ramzan, which will start in three days.

"The Government of India as well as the militant leadership should respect the religious sensibilities of the people and give them a sense of relief through a ceasefire. Ramzan is a month of peace, compassion, prayers and seeking forgiveness. It is incumbent on everyone to contribute towards creating a sense of relief for the people of the violence-ravaged state,” said Ms. Mufti.

Ms. Mufti, who also

pushed for a ceasefire in Ramzan during the PDP-BJP rule last year in J&K, said: "The previous ceasefire provided a much-needed relief to the people of the State. There is a need to repeat the similar gesture. A muscular and military approach is gaining momentum in the State. There is need of an immediate end to the crackdown unleashed in Kashmir".

PDP reversed chances: Omar

Meanwhile, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah said all the major gains achieved in his tenure to decrease the footprint of government forces, mellowing down of Public Safety Act (PSA) and efforts to do away with Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) "were put into a chasm by the former PDP-BJP led government".

Addressing a public meet at Rajpura in Pulwama, Mr. Abdullah said, "In my tenure, I raised the issue of decreasing the footprint of armed forces in various areas; my government actually did lessen the grid of bunkers. However, the PDP-BJP was not able to keep up the momentum of my good work. Today we have a situation wherein our highways have been snatched from us."

He said Ms. Mufti has bequeathed such a situation in Kashmir that she herself is not able to canvass for parliamentary elections in Kashmir.

“Had the BJP government been able to deliver on any of its promises, it would not have hunched low to seek votes in the name of Balakote and Pulwama ," he added.