Srinagar, May 14: 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 so that the issues and hardships they continue to face can be effectively addressed.
In a post on X, Syed Mohammad 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 that the Central government has to decide based on the prevailing domestic and external scenario. 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 saying this again and again because I clearly see growing restlessness among the people, especially our youth. People here are grappling with a range of issues that need to be addressed as soon as possible. Some of our immediate and pressing problems include growing unemployment and, at the same time, the absence of adequate measures for job creation 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 grave challenges that must be addressed urgently.”
Not only large industries but also the MSME and SSI sectors, which sustain thousands of families, are grappling with severe difficulties, and many are either nearly defunct or on the brink of collapse. Similarly, there are a range of other issues that deserve the Centre’s immediate attention,” he added.“
These problems are directly affecting the daily lives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, thereby creating a feeling that everything is not going well here and that the situation cannot be declared normal,” the post added.