Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday urged the Government of India to find a way to end bloodshed in Kashmir, and said that stones and guns “are in the hands of children of poor.”
Speaking to reporters on the opening day of bi-annual shift of the government to Srinagar, Mehbooba appealed to the Government of India to find a “middle path” to end the bloodshed in Kashmir.
“The death of five civilians in Shopian is very painful. I appeal to the people my country and Government of India to find a way to end this bloodshed,” she said.
The CM made the appeal amid rising violence in Kashmir, which claimed 14 lives in the past two days in Srinagar and Shopian. Six civilians were shot dead by forces during clashes at different places in the twin districts.
Mehbooba also urged the parents to value the lives of their children, saying, “Allah has given us life to live it well, not to embrace death at 18 or 19 years of age. I don’t think Islam permits it (to embrace death at this age).”
“Stones and guns are in the hands of children of the poor and we have to find a path to ensure that these boys don’t get killed and also our army men and police don’t get killed,” she said.
On the occasion of opening of the civil secretariat, Mehbooba received the traditional guard of honour.