PDP welcomes PM's remarks on Kashmir; Congress says it came too late

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir's ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on the Kashmir situation and expressed hope that it would mark a fresh beginning in a sustained dialogue process to address the issues. "We welcome the Prime Minister's intervention and hope that it will mark a fresh beginning in a sustained dialogue process for addressing the issues confronted by the state," senior PDP leader and Education Minister Naeem Akhtar said. Akhtar, who is also the spokesman of the PDP-BJP government in the state, said while similar initiatives in 2008 and 2010 were not carried forward, they expected that the Prime Minister's initiative on dialogue will be taken ahead. "We want the dialogue process to continue. We want it to gain momentum even when the present crises are resolved and things return to normalcy in the coming days," he said. The Prime Minister's statement would help in a long way to make things better in Kashmir and pacify the people's anger, he said. Akhtar said his party believed that dialogue is the only way to get Kashmir out of this crisis and allow its people to witness peaceful times. "We have always strived for the resumption of the dialogue process to get things back in order. It has been our long pending demand. We want dialogue to take place in the most conducive manner," he said. Meanwhile, opposition Congress said the Prime Minister's intervention on Kashmir situation was "late". "The Congress expects the Prime Minister to respond to the debate and discussion being held tomorrow in Parliament. Finally, the Prime Minister spoke on Kashmir, but it is late. "We feel that Prime Minister should have spoken on the current unrest early, besides expressing sympathies and his concern for the people of Kashmir," a state Congress spokesperson said in a statement. "The Prime Minister should also have spoken on the agenda of alliance between his party (BJP) and the PDP, besides assuring that the agenda of alliance finalised at the time of formation of the government in the state would be implemented in letter and spirit, besides ensuring an atmosphere of friendship between the Centre and the people of Kashmir," the Congress leader said. Breaking his silence on the 32-day turmoil in Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a public rally in Bhabra in Madhya Pradesh, today advocated a path of "democracy and dialogue" to restore peace in the spirit of 'insaniyat (humanity), jamhuriyat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat'.