Demonstrate spirit of accommodation, give Kashmiris a chance: Sonia in all party meet | ummid.com
New Delhi: Kashmiri youth who have grown in the “embrace of violence of conflict and brutality” need to be given hope, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said Wednesday at the all-party meeting to discuss the crisis in the volatile Kashmir Valley.
“We know that there are some inimical forces within and beyond the state and we understand the extreme pressure and dangerous circumstances our police and security forces face in protecting our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Gandhi said at the meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The meeting held at the prime minister’s 7, Race Course Road official residence was called to discuss measures to defuse the volatile situation in the valley, where 88 people, mainly teenagers and youth, have died in violent protests since June 11.
Gandhi, who was leading the Congress party delegation in the meeting, said: “But we also must ask ourselves why there is so much anger. Why there is so much pain, in particular among the youth.”
“The young especially belong to a generation that has grown up in the embrace of violence of conflict and brutality. We must give them hope. We must understand and respect their legitimate aspirations.
“This should be reflected in what we say and decide. We need to be magnanimous and mature in our approach as besets strong confidence and inclusive democracy,” Gandhi said.
Kashmir, integral part of India
Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, Sonia Gandhi said during the meet and stressed that a "spirit of accommodation" could end the turmoil and conflict.
"Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of our country and democracy. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are our people. They are our citizens," she said at the all-party meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"Let us demonstrate... the spirit of accommodation. This alone I believe can create a space for reconciliation and bring an end to turmoil and conflict," she said at the meeting held at the prime minister's 7, Race Course Road residence.
The meeting was called to discuss measures to defuse the volatile situation in the valley, where 88 people, mainly teenagers and youth, have died in violent protests since June 11.
"My party is more than willing to support the process of healing and dialogue in partnership with the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Gandhi said.
She expressed her "deep sense of sorrow at the continuing loss of life in Kashmir".
"I share the anguish of those who have lost their loved ones and my heart goes out especially to the parents and families of children who have died. I regret not sharing their grief in person. I also offer my condolences to the families of our security forces who lost their dear ones in Kashmir," she said.
She appealed to all political parties to take a “suitable decision” to break the “vicious cycle of violence and suffering” in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Together let us arise at a suitable decision on which we can all agree to break this vicious cycle of violence and suffering,” Gandhi said at the all-party meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here.
“Let’s put aside our ideological and political differences. We are facing far too serious a challenge to allow those differences to stand in the way of resolute sensitive and appropriate action,” Gandhi, who led the Congress delegation at the crucial meeting, said.
