PDP chief urges J-K parties to emulate Ladakh unity

Srinagar: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday urged political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to learn from Ladakh’s unity in pursuing its demands, calling for all parties to come together and jointly take up the region’s political, social and economic issues with the Centre. “We should learn a lesson from Ladakh -- the way they came together to push for their demands...,” Mehbooba said, stressing that Jammu and Kashmir could not address its challenges through individual political parties acting alone.

She said all political parties must come together and form a common platform to engage with the Centre on issues concerning the Union territory. “Until all the political parties come together and form an alliance and engage with Delhi, we will not be able to tell them to stop banning our institutions, conducting raids and the arrests and detentions of our young people,” Mehbooba said, speaking at the 5th ‘Halla Bolle’ conclave organised by a news portal here.

The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir said the region’s biggest challenge was its young population; political leaders needed to understand their concerns and difficulties rather than merely answer their questions. “Our biggest challenge is that 60 per cent of our population comprises youths. What are we going to do for them? We not only have to answer their questions, but also understand their difficulties,” she said. Mehbooba said prolonged detentions, surveillance, arrests and raids had created difficulties for families and could further alienate the younger generation. She said she had already written letters to the heads of all political parties and everybody, except the National Conference, has responded positively.

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