Mainstream politicians from Jammu and Kashmir have welcomed the visit of Yashwant Sinha led delegation in Valley.Terming the initiative a ‘right step towards right direction’, these leaders have expressed hope that New Delhi will take measure in addressing the long pending Kashmir imbroglio.I am personally very happy. I have huge expectations from such meetings and in such crisis Kashmir is facing, any initiative like one taken by Yashwant Sinha, is highly commendable,” National Conference president and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah said.“I hope Yashwant Sinha led delegation will present true picture of Kashmir in New Delhi and a solution to our issues is found,” he said.Senior Congress leader and former Minister Taj Mohiuddin said that Government of India is always indifferent towards Kashmir and now New Delhi has opened up. “It should have been done earlier and let us see how GoI will behave in future,” he said adding that the visit of delegation to Kashmir is a positive sign.Taj Mohiuddin said even the political agenda of PDP-BJP says that Hurriyat should be engaged in dialogue.CPI(M) senior leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami told CNS that Government of India must listen to the voices of people of Kashmir.
“The arrival of any Indian delegation is always welcome and this time we hope something positive may come out,” he said and added that dialogue is the only solution to the Kashmir problem.“It was good to see senior separatist leaders talking to this delegation and we welcome it. We want Government of India to take measures to resolve the long pending Kashmir issue,” he said.People’s Democratic Front Chairman Hakim Muhammad Yasin termed the delegation visit as ‘better late than never.’ “Now senior separatist leader Geelani sahb has shown positive gestures, government of India should take advantage of this and take measures to resolve the issue. This time if Government of India will repeat its past mistakes, then again people in Kashmir will lose faith in Indian institutions,” he said that separatist leaders have showed that they are not averse to dialogue.Former Congress leader and Minister Abdul Gani Wakil said it is high time for government of India to take serious measures and get the issue resolved. “We welcome the Sinha led delegation and hope that this time measures will be taken to allay the apprehensions of people,” Wakil said adding that dialogue is the only way to resolve any issue.“It is right time to move ahead but we have to learn lessons from the past that happened in Kashmir,” he said. (CNS)