National

Shun violence, Mufti tells militants

By Luv Puri

JAMMU JAN. 9. Reiterating his appeal to militants to shun violence, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, has said that they had no justification for killing innocent people especially when the groundwork for unconditional talks to resolve the Kashmir problem has already been prepared.

Addressing a public meeting at the border town of Kargil on Wednesday, the Mufti Sayeed asked the militants why they were targeting innocents and spilling blood unnecessarily when the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister and the leader of the Congress had agreed to initiate a dialogue for lasting peace in the State. The killings must end and we should prepare for a dialogue," he said. "We want to wipe out the tears of every victim and do justice to everyone and every region," he said. The task was enormous and they needed the support of everyone to achieve the goal.

"Hundreds of our sisters have been widowed and our children orphaned. Our brave Jawans of the police and the security forces have lost their lives and their families faced unending agonies and miseries. People have been caught between guns and have faced unfathomed miseries," he said referring to the 12-year-old insurgency in the State.

Lauding the people of Kargil in keeping militancy at bay, the Mufti said that Kargilites had demonstrated their maturity and collective will to deal with situation. ''I know how wisely the elders of Kargil did not allow their youth to go astray and fall prey to Pakistan's game plan." This they did in the face of great pressure and, at times, provocation. "You did it even when you faced constant neglect and injustice at the hands of the Government. Your decision not to allow the gun to come into your home has kept Kargil safe for every one," he said.

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