Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 28: India can become a Vishwaguru' (global leader) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dreams as it has power, democracy and secularism but the road to achieving that goes through Jammu and Kashmir, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said on Thursday.
She said India could not even become a leader of the SAARC countries and the biggest hurdle in that was its relation with Pakistan.
I want to tell Modi ji that you keep on saying that you will make this country a Vishwaguru'. Let you make it a Vishwaguru', first handle your home. India will certainly become a Vishwaguru' because it has that power, it has democracy, it has secularism -- which though in today's times you are smashing, Mehbooba said.
She was addressing a function to celebrate her party's 23rd foundation day at Sher-e-Kashmir Park here.
The PDP president, however, said the road to making the country a Vishwaguru' goes through Jammu and Kashmir.
If you want to make the country Vishwaguru', the road to it goes through J-K. Till you do not resolve Kashmir issue, your feet will remain fettered by it. The road to becoming Vishwaguru' does not go through G-7 or G-20 or Quad, but through SAARC, she said.
Mehbooba vouched for improving relations with neighbouring countries, especially Pakistan.
...Your neighbours, if I take Pakistan's name, they will get angry, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and other countries in the SAARC. What have done with them? When you couldn't become a guru' of your neighbours, then how will you become a Vishwaguru'?
What is the biggest hurdle in taking SAARC forward? It is the relations between India and Pakistan. Now that I have taken Pakistan's name, there will be debates on news channels tonight that I am interfering in foreign relations. But, why shouldn't I, she said.
Pakistan's border is not only with J-K, but Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat as well. However, the firing or war takes place only on the borders of J-K, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said.
There is a 10 lakh army only in J-K. The life of the people has become miserable only in J-K. So, until you do not mend your relations with Pakistan, and talk to them, how will J-K stop from being a battle-ground (between India and Pakistan)? she said.
Often facing flak over her remarks about dialogue with Pakistan, the PDP chief said she will continue to talk about the neighbouring country till the 10 lakh army personnel continue to remain in J-K, till J-K continues to be a battleground between our country and Pakistan.
Referring to the situation in Sri Lanka, Mehbooba said Modi should have called a meeting of the SAARC to show that India was leading the way.
You talk about being a Vishwaguru'. Sri Lanka is battling a huge storm. If you really want to perform the role of a Vishwaguru', you should have called a meeting of the SAARC, so that it would seem to them that India is their leader.
There is a crisis in Pakistan. I understand that you think of it as your enemy, but if you behave well with an enemy, he becomes your friend. If you cannot become the guru of SAARC, then how will you become a Vishwaguru'? she added.
The biggest challenge, Mehbooba said, that Modi faces and which has been there right from the country's first PM Jawahar Lal Nehru till now is the resolution of the issue of J-K. |
