Jammu: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday asked “mainstream and outside mainstream” people of Jammu and Kashmir that whatever “you will get, you will get it from India only and nowhere else.”
“Be it our constitution which we swear by along with country’s constitution; be it our flag or residuary powers, protect them. This means a lot. If we secure all these things and utilize them, we can really become crown of this country. If we do not respect, what is left with us?” Mehbooba Mufti, said while replying to the discussion on Motion of Thanks on Governor’s Address in the legislative Assembly from 16:06 hours to 16:50 hours.
“They say we don’t believe in Indian constitution or Jammu and Kashmir constitution, and then what do you believe in?” Mehbooba said in an apparent reference to pro-freedom leaders.
“What will you get? Where from you will get? I want to put it on record that people of Jammu and Kashmir, mainstream or outside mainstream, what you will get, you will get it from this country only and nowhere else. What you got, you got it from this country only and what you will get in future will also come from this country.”
Terming dialogue as the only way ahead, the Chief Minister said appointment of Dineshwar Sharma, with the rank of Cabinet Secretary, as interlocutor last year was a major decision to undertake sustained dialogue in the State.
“Government of India appointed special representative and it is for the first time that someone has been given chief secretary’s power. So far many interlocutors, many representatives were appointed by government of India and it is for the first time that somebody has been given cabinet secretary rank, the highest in bureaucracy. Tell me, you can take horse to stream but can’t force him to drink water.” She said, adding, “As my brother Raina said, a team came in Jammu and Kashmir when situation was bad in 2016 and knocked at the door (of Hurriyat leaders). They (Indian leaders) were not weak. They were tall and big leaders. They only came for welfare and well being of people of Jammu and Kashmir and went to their doors. This is also face of people of our country that they go to the doors and asked them to open them, let us have talks. But again they said we will not talk.” She said interlocutor was appointed five-six months back, “they are not bothered.” “Bloodshed is going on but we can’t wait things to happen,” she added.
