Mehbooba loses cool at press meet; condemns stone-pelting

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today lost her cool and abruptly ended a press conference being addressed by her and union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here when journalists asked questions about her role in dealing with the current unrest.
She suddenly got up, saying "thank you", after replying to a question even as Singh was seated. He also then got up reluctantly and the press interaction at her residence ended.
While responding to questions, Mehbooba condemned stone- pelting and other forms of violence being witnessed in Kashmir for the last 47 days and suggested that casualties will take place when camps of security forces and police pickets and police stations are attacked by violent mobs.

She also elaborated on her earlier comments that only five per cent people of Kashmir are agitating. She said she meant to say that while 95 per cent of the people want resolution to the problem peacefully, five per cent had "hijacked" the issue by indulging in violence.
"I am for resolution of Kashmir issue. There should be dialogue. But by resorting to stone-pelting and attacking the camps, no issue will be resolved. We are not sidelining the issue. We want resolution," she asserted.
The Chief Minister sought to explain the manner in which casualties took place, particularly of the youngsters, over which there has been an uproar.

"95 per cent of those killed -- mostly youth -- have died in retaliatory action while they were attacking the security establishments," she said.

She added, "People have come onto the roads. We imposed curfew. Did the children go to army camps to buy toffees (candy)? Was the 15-year-old boy, who attacked the police station at Damhal Hanjipora (in south Kashmir), going there to get milk?"
At the same time, she said she supported action against those security personnel who were involved in the killing of a lecturer in Khrew area of Pulwama district earlier this month.
"There is the case of lecturer. An inquiry should be held and punishment should be given the culprits. I support it," Mehbooba said.

As journalists kept asking questions about her role in dealing the situation, Singh tried to mediate by telling the scribes: "Mehbooba ji is from among you".
With a decisive mandate at his back, Modi has the
opportunity to revive the process of reconciliation in the sub-continent and emerge as a man of peace in the region, the J&K Chief Minister said.
She said the prevailing challenging situation along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir necessitates the urgency of reviving the composite dialogue process, sooner the better.
"We in Jammu and Kashmir understand better what the ordeal of violence is, as it has been our fate to live through and survive its frightening hazards," Mehbooba said.

She expressed the hope that "the dark shadows of pessimism cast over the peace process will not jeopardize the region's security and stability as any such scenario would have disastrous and colossal consequences for the people living in the region."
For the people of Jammu & Kashmir, peace along the borders and within the mainland is of immense significance and "I hope the political leadership of the two countries treats it with the same spirit," she added.
She called for a political dialogue within the state for the resolution of the internal dimensions of the problem.
She also urged upon the security agencies to conduct their operations keeping in view the safety of the people.

She stressed the need for following a humane approach while dealing with law-and-order situations on ground.
While asking the security agencies to exercise maximum restraint, the Chief Minister asked them to avoid any civilian casualties and damage to private and public property.
Expressing shock over recent reports of various school buildings being gutted in mysterious fire incidents, Mehbooba said it is a loss to the entire society.
She asked the police to investigate these fire incidents and maintain vigil to prevent such unfortunate events.
The Chief Minister instructed the security forces that rather than static deployment, focus should be on area security.

She urged the police and security forces to hand-hold the misadvised youth who have joined militancy or are indulging in violence, with compassion, and help them bring back to the mainstream through persuasive influence.
Mehbooba also directed that training and skill development programmes should be organized for such youth by way of sustainable livelihood support.
With regard to situation along the borders, she directed Divisional Commissioner and IGP Jammu to ensure safety and security of the life and property of the border residents.
The Chief Minister called for enhanced vigil and asked the administration to provide shelter and all basic facilities to the people displaced at the time.

Underlining the need for ameliorating the sufferings of the people, Mehbooba said the civil administration, with active support of police and other agencies, should try to resolve problems of common masses.