Srinagar: Referring to recent remarks by RSS leader Dattatreya Hosabale and former Army Chief Manoj Naravane advocating dialogue with Pakistan, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today said that while the Government of India may or may not engage in talks with the neighbouring country, it is far more important to initiate dialogue with its own people in Jammu and Kashmir to address the issues and hardships they continue to face.
In a post on X, Altaf Bukhari wrote, “RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale’s statement on dialogue with Pakistan, and former Army Chief Manoj Naravane’s similar views, are matters for the Central Government to decide based on the prevailing domestic and external situation. However, there should not be an iota of doubt that the Centre urgently needs to talk to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in order to address their genuine concerns and long-pending grievances.”
Urging the Centre to address the issues confronting the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said, “I am repeatedly raising this issue because I clearly see growing restlessness among the people, especially the youth. People here are grappling with a range of problems that need immediate attention. Some of the pressing issues include rising unemployment and the lack of adequate job creation measures and employment opportunities.”
He further said, “A large number of young people are unable to obtain passports, preventing them from seeking better livelihood opportunities abroad. At the same time, soaring inflation has placed immense pressure on ordinary families. Our agriculture, horticulture, tourism, and industrial sectors — the backbone of our economy — are facing serious challenges that must be addressed urgently.”
“Not only large industries, but also the MSME and SSI sectors, which sustain thousands of families, are facing severe difficulties, and many are either nearly defunct or on the verge of collapse. There are several other issues as well that deserve the Centre’s immediate attention,” he added.
“These problems are directly affecting the daily lives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, creating a feeling that everything is not going well here and that the situation cannot be declared normal,” the post added.
