Former Chief Minister and National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the chatter among political circles in the state on whether the senior political leader is playing a “peacemaker” in the restive Valley.Farooq on Tuesday met Modi in New Delhi where the recently elected parliamentarian from Srinagar seat insisted that dialogue should be held with Hurriyat and Pakistan for resolution of Kashmir issue and to bring peace to the Valley where student protests and violence are on rise.Sources said that Farooq has told Modi that “coercive” measures and “tough stand” will not resolve the long-pending issue and bring the ongoing fragile situation to normalcy and talking about only development of Jammu and Kashmir will not do.“The meeting took place in the most cordial atmosphere and the Prime Minister was equally concerned about the situation in the state. I am sure that the Prime Minister will urgently address all the issues that have been flagged by me and others from the state,” Farooq said after the meeting.
The three-time leader also met CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and discussed the situation prevailing in Kashmir.Yechury while talking to KNS said they discussed the “way forward” and necessity of dialogue with all stake holders in Jammu and Kashmir.“We discussed the way forward and starting of dialogue with all stakeholders in Kashmir.
Dr Farooq explained the situation prevailing situation in the State. He was happy with the response of the Prime Minister,” Yechury told KNS.“Dr Farooq Sahab is trying to play a peacemaker in Jammu and Kashmir,” the CPI (M) leader told KNS.Yechury said that BJP has made a commitment with All Party Delegation that visited Kashmir during the turmoil and with the people of Jammu and Kashmir through Agenda of Alliance.The meeting with Modi assumes significance at a time when all mainstream political leaders in the state have time and again pitched for dialogue with “all stakeholders” in Jammu and Kashmir. And, when BJP has refused to talk to Hurriyat or Pakistan, saying that the “violence should end in Kashmir”.The meeting, sources said, has brought reprieve to the ruling PDP which too has repeatedly insisted upon the centre to address the Kashmir issue politically and “take a leaf out of Vajpayee’s book” on Kashmir.Earlier, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had made passionate appeals to the opposition parties, Hurriyat Conference, to help her in restoring peace and normalcy.Barring a statement, the National Conference is silent on the meeting. Sources in the party said that Dr Farooq Abdullah is returning to the Valley this evening and is likely to apprise the party of the developments in the meeting between him and Modi. (KNS)