SRINAGAR, Aug 17: Reacting sharply to senior Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s statement that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was “just a pawn to interfere in the dialogue issue”, the ruling National Conference, while terming the comment as “juvenile”, has asked separatists to re-read his speech.
“The chief minister had said that let us achieve through dialogue what you could not achieve with guns – a peaceful, prosperous Jammu and Kashmir. Let you come forward and talk for achieving a breakthrough on table which gun could not deliver in 20 years,” a statement by the party headed by Abdullah read.
“Omar Abdullah never invited them but advised them that for the prosperity and progress of the state they (separatists) should come forward and talk as it is the only way forward for a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue,” said the spokesman adding, “Issuing irrelevant statement proves that they probably have not read the statement clearly.”
Also read: Geelani says No to Kashmir Chief’s dialogue offer
The NC spokesman said separatists’ non-seriousness and childish remarks have again proved they only want to score points over the sufferings of the people.
“This not only proves that they are scared to come on the negotiating table but also proves that they have no love left for the people and want the pot boiling, forgetting that it might endanger the state’s survival,” he said.
The ruling NC’s spokesman said there’s still time for them (separatists) to come forward and help the state to prosper; otherwise these self-assumed messiahs of Kashmir will be rendered irrelevant soon.
“Dialogue is the only way out and anyone who wants the people of Kashmir to live in peace with dignity, they should enter into talks with the centre, nothing can be achieved by resorting to violence, stone pelting, killing people or by burning our assets,” he said.