"We felt this party talks about solution of Kashmir issue": Salim Geelani after joing PDP ahead of J-K polls
Sep 02, 2024
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 2 : Former Hurriyat member, Syed Salim Geelani after joining Mehbooba Mufti-led People's Democratic Party said that the PDP talks about the solution of Kashmir issue and there is one voice in which the basic protection of the people is being supported.
Geelani said, "People's Democratic Party, we felt that this party talks about democratic rights, talks about people's political rights, talks about people's human rights, talks about our children who are trapped and then there is talk about the solution of Kashmir issue, that we should sit on a table and talk. So that the people who are dying can be saved, so this is our policy, here there is one voice in which the basic protection of the people is being supported."
On Sunday, several leaders and workers joined PDP at the party headquarters in Srinagar, in the presence of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.
Mehbooba Mufti stressed the party's agenda of reconciliation and dialogue with the Hurriyat leaders.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar on Sunday, Mufti said that the Hurriyat leaders are not "untouchables" and expressed readiness for dialogue with the latter if they wants to be "part of the process."
"The agenda of the PDP is reconciliation and dialogue. The Hurriyat is not from China or Pakistan. LK Advani spoke to them when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the PM. They are not untouchables. Our agenda is to solve the Kashmir issue, and the process of dialogue and reconciliation is necessary for it. We want to find a solution within the Constitution, and if the Hurriyat also wants to be a part of the process, then it is appreciated," the PDP chief said.
Earlier on Friday, Mufti took a jibe at National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah and alleged that whenever they get power, elections become halal for the National Conference and when they lose power, elections become haram for them and this era of political convenience was started by them.
Polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 8.
It is the first assembly poll since the abrogation of Article 370.
