Will not spare those who burned down our schools: Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar (J-K) [India], Nov. 7(ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Monday, came down heavily on the recent incidences of burning of schools by miscreants in the Valley and asserted that those responsible will not be spared. Mufti also expressed concern over the Indo-Pak relations which are in troubled waters and are directly impacting Jammu and Kashmir and its environment. "When everything started moving in Jammu and Kashmir, some miscreants burnt our schools which impacted our education system. In next one week government will definitely take some steps to punish those who burned our schools, this is worst form of terrorism," she added. "We are trying to demotivate the children who recently joined militancy and will bring them back to their homes," Mufti added. The Chief Minister further stressed on the need to solve the longstanding issues between India and Pakistan. "You can change your friends, but you can't change your neighbours. We have to adopt the ideas of Atal Bihari Vajpayee to tackle Pakistan," she said. The Centre had last week asked the Mehbooba Mufti-led state government to check such attempts and make efforts for the reopening of schools which have been closed since July 9. Expressing concern over the burning down of schools in the Kashmir Valley, the National Panthers Party (NPP) has called for the imposition of Governor's rule in the state, claiming that an atmosphere of complete chaos exists and needs to be quelled. Earlier, Shafiq Mir, who was part of the 30-member delegation of an apex body representing 4,000 village panchayats of the state, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and got assurance of taking all steps to pacify the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. On Sunday, a separatists in Kashmir called for a dilemma assembly of all stakeholders on Tuesday to chalk out a "future march of action" with courtesy to a ongoing disturbance in the Valley, while rejecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that growth was a pivotal to a solution.(ANI)