JKNT

Jammu, October 28  Chief Minister Mehbooba Muifti today asked Delhi and Islamabad to revive the Vajpayeean  spirit  of the early 200s when the borders fell silent  and a new era of  reconciliation unveiled itself in South Asia with  improvement of the Indo-Pak relations.

Mehbooba Mufti  while speaking out after passing out parade of KPS  officers at Sher-e-Kashmir   Police Academy  on Friday did not mince words while describing  how the recent  hostilities  between the two countries   and border flare up  looks a   fearsome  contrast to the  peace  from Kathua to Kargil .

That was the magic of the statesmanship  and  vision that the former  Prime Minister  Atal Behari Vajpayee had shown by  extending hand of friendship to Pakistan  from Srinagar in April 2003. The ceasefire came into effect  and peace followed, she said.

The Chief Minister asked Pakistan to “ behave” and   focus on dialogue instead of resorting to cross-border firing  resulting in tragedies on both sides of the border.

She lashed out at separatists and other vested interests  who were setting afire schools   in a bid to enroll the  young and poor children into the ranks of chronic stone throwers and drug addicts to destroy the social  fabric  of Kashmiri society .

“ These are the same very vested interests who first  handed guns to the young generatio0n in 1990s, exploiting the poverty of theirs. Now, when guns have failed ,  they have resorted to these new destructive tactics. It is shame on them because their own children and grand children are unaffected by  this destructive  ways and means. These are worse than double standards,” she said.