PM Modi well set to find political solution toValley's problems: Ghulam Hassan Mir

New Delhi, Aug. 21 (ANI): Expressing hope that the present dispensation at the Centre is strong enough to find a political solution to the long-standing problem in Kashmir, J-K Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN) president Ghulam Hassan Mir today said "there is a strong government at the Centre as the people of India has given an absolute majority to Prime Minister Modi, and thus, we believe that under Prime Minister Modi a political solution could be found of this long-standing problem". "This is an effort, we met the President and now we are looking forward to meeting the Prime Minister, and various political parties, including opposition parties to apprise them of the current situation in the Valley so that there develops a consensus. The approach of the Government of India and the state government is at the administrative level and not a political approach. This issue needs to be dealt politically and any delay in the approach is neither in favour of the nation of the people," Mir told ANI about their meeting with the President on Saturday to apprise him of the restive situation in the Valley. "We told President Sahib that the Valley had witnessed several agitations, but the current agitation is very sensitive and of different character. The Central Government took notes of earlier agitations and appointed several commissions, working groups and interlocutors, but threw their recommendations in the trash bin, which has created alienation and a trust deficit; there is a need to win the lost trust," he added. Stating that the decision to meet the President was taken jointly by all the opposition parties- the National Conference (NC), Congress, CPM, PDF and DPN, he said, "They are a voice in Jammu and Kashmir, and they expressed their concern on the Kashmir situation and apprised President Sahib that the prevailing situation in the Valley is very serious, and alienation has increased, which we need to address." "We apprised President Sahib that we say Kashmir is an integral part of the country; but when there is pain in any part, the whole body aches. Thus, there should be an attempt from here (the country and the Centre), because it (Kashmir) is a body part and that should not burn and bleed. We should have such an approach. There should be love between the people of the Valley and people here, only then a dialogue can move forward," said Mir, adding that aggressive statements hurt Kashmiri people and widen the gulf. "Our job is to bring people closer and find a political solution to this problem." Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah led a delegation of members of opposition parties to meet President Mukherjee to apprise him of the restive situation in the Valley. Speaking to the media here after submitting a memorandum to the President, Omar said this is the first time in memory that initiatives that should have been taken by the government are actually being taken by the opposition. "This afternoon a delegation of opposition parties that had previously met in Srinagar, called on his Excellency the President to present him a memorandum and to apprise him of the situation currently prevailing, particularly in the Kashmir Valley, but also showing signs of spreading to Pir Punjal, Chenab Valley region of Jammu and Kargil part of Ladakh as well," he said. Omar added that their meeting with the President, which cuts across party lines, symbolised the deep concerns that they have for the prevailing situation and also their disappointment at the way the matter has sought to be handled, both by the Centre as well as the state government. When asked about Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's statement, where he said India wants to see pens and computers in the hands of the Kashmiri youth and not stones and firearms, Mir said, "If the Home Minister won't show his concern who else would do? But, this is not sufficient, because this is only a wishful thinking. A wishful thinking is fine, but we want some concrete step from our Home Minister." In an attempt to reach out to the Kashmiri youth, the Home Minister on Saturday insisted that India wants to see pens and computers in their hands and not stones and firearms. Addressing a gathering here as a part of the 70th Independence Day celebrations 'Yaad Karo Qurbani' to pay tribute to freedom fighters at Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Singh said, "The people of this country want to see pens and computers in the hands of Kashmiri youth and not stones and firearms. We want to see employment in your hand. We want to see you working hard." "There can be no solution by protests. We first want that peace is established in the Valley and only after that we can mutually find a solution. The people of this country not only love the land of Kashmir but the Kashmiri people as well," he added. (ANI)