Future of Kashmir should be grounded in realities: PM

NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said the future of the troubled Jammu and Kashmir should be practical and “grounded in political and economic realities” as he urged political parties from the state to build a consensus on a “realizable” vision.

“I would urge you to build a consensus on a practical and realizable vision of Jammu and Kashmir’s future,” Manmohan Singh said, addressing a meeting of all parties from the state that was boycotted by main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The meeting called by the prime minister holds significance in the wake of a fresh wave of unrest that has engulfed the Kashmir Valley for the last two months now during which over 50 people were killed, mostly in firing by security forces.

The flare up has led to the revival of pro-freedom movement in the state.

But the prime minister hinted that independence was not practicable for the land-locked state which acceded to India after the 1947 partition of the sub-continent.

“The people (of Jammu and Kashmir) have to be convinced that the future has to be grounded in political and economic realities of our time,” said Manmohan Singh, speaking to Kashmir leaders in chaste Urdu.

He “fully” endorsed the call by young MPs from all political parties in the country who made an appeal to their “brothers and sisters in Jammu and Kashmir to exercise restraint and have trust in the power of dialogue”.

“Every possible effort should be made to reach out to the youth in Jammu and Kashmir. We must respond in a sincere and substantive manner to their genuine aspirations for freedom from fear and for freedom to build for themselves a life of dignity, security and well-being,” he said.

“I assure the youth of Jammu and Kashmir that their genuine empowerment will be accorded the highest priority in our Jammu and Kashmir policy.”