Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said the youth should give up guns or they will face thousands of these from the security forces.
Addressing a public meeting on the sidelines of an official function in south Kashmir's Kulgam district, the Chief Minister said: "I have come to have a heart to heart talk with you today.
"I may be in power tomorrow or not, but unless you persuade your children to give up guns, they will have to face thousands of guns of the security forces.
"Violence will get us nothing. If violence escalates in the Valley, there will be more security force camps and then it will take us hundreds of years to have those camps removed."
Mehbooba Mufti said if her peace initiatives get enough support from the people, her government will push for opening up more and more routes across the Line of Control.
Together with Shopian, Anantnag and Pulwama districts, Kulgam has been a hotbed of militancy during the last three years.
This has pushed developmental projects and routine administrative initiatives to the back-burner as the focus of the state and Central governments remains on bringing the ongoing militant violence and street protests under control.
--IANS
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