KASHMIR-MEHBOOBA 2

This was the first meeting the Chief Minister had with This was the first meeting the Chief Minister had withthe Prime minister after the violence broke out in the valleyon July 8. Taking Pakistan head on, Mufti said "our Prime Ministertook bold initiatives of inviting Nawaz Sharif for oath-takingceremony and later flew to Lahore. This was unfortunatelyfollowed by the Pathankot terror attack. "Lately, when the situation was bad and Pakistan wasfuelling the ongoing crisis in Kashmir, our Home MinisterRajnath Singhji went to Lahore, but again, unfortunately,Pakistan let go this golden opportunity and did not extend thecourtesy that needs to be given to a guest," she said. Observing that the basis of the PDP-BJP alliance was onthe foundations of Vajpayee’s Kashmir policy and to carryforward from where it had stopped, she recalled the words ofher father and former Chief Minster Mufti Mohammed Sayeed whohad said that if Kashmir can be resolved, it can only be bythe Prime Minister who enjoys two-thirds majority. "If things don’t happen during his tenure, it won’thappen ever. I believe that Modiji, who took a bold step ofgoing there, today again says we need to talk to our ownpeople, because people are dying," she said. "I am sure that the Prime Minister will not forget tofind a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue like the UPAdid," she said. (more) PTI SKLARC