Srinagar: In occupied Kashmir, the APHC General Secretary and the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, has termed as ridiculous the BJP General Secretary, Ram Madhav’s statement that talks with resistance leadership can be held under the ambit of Indian Constitution.
Shabbir Ahmed Shah in a statement issued in Srinagar said, “We reject such offer of dialogue within Indian Constitution as the Kashmir dispute has been acknowledged by international community and backed by more than 18 UN resolutions.â€
“Ram Madhav should bear in mind that Kashmir is not part of India that he and other Indian leaders will speak anything on this disputed territory. It is due to such stubborn attitude of New Delhi and unrealistic statements by Indian leaders that uncertainty prevails in Kashmir,†he said.
Shabbir Shah said, the people of Kashmir have never begged for talks before India nor do they believe in bilateral dialogue but are of the view that all the stakeholders of this dispute including Pakistan be taken on board for its settlement. He maintained that India can neither break Kashmiris’ resolve through military might nor can continue its illegal occupation over Jammu and Kashmir for long.
“Despite sacrificing lakh of lives, we never gave up hope but continue to demand third party intervention or tripartite talks under the supervision of United Nations. The statements like one issued by Ram Madhav cannot cow down our spirit,†he added.
Meanwhile, members of the so-called Kashmir Assembly, Engineer Abdur Rasheed, in a statement reminded the BJP leader, Amit Shah that Jammu and Kashmir dispute was not about abrogating or strengthening Article 370 of Indian constitution that grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir. He said, what Kashmiris want has been communicated to Amit Shah through the treatment meted out to the puppet Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, by the women of Kashmir at a function in Srinagar on Tuesday. Mehbooba Mufti had to face embarrassment as women rose from their seats and started raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans when she reached the venue and began to address the audience.
On the other hand, Aaghaz-e-Dosti, a forum for peace in both India and Pakistan, in a statement issued in New Delhi urged the two countries to de-escalate tension and restore peace on the Line of Control (LoC).
