In a sign of growing unease between the alliance partners in Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP and the BJP, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti warned the Centre against shutting down the cross-LoC trade.
The NIA, which has arrested seven separatists on charges of receiving hawala funds to foment unrest in Kashmir, suspects the good exported from Pakistan occupied Kashmir(PoK) could also be finding its way into funding the separatist activities in Kashmir.
Mehbooba also called for holding assembly sessions in PoK once a year.
“There are so many issues (with trade) through Wagah. Charas and ganja are smuggled into India but you don’t stop the trade,'' she told a PDP rally on the 18th anniversary of the party in Srinagar. ''If something goes wrong on Srinagar- Muzaffarabad road, you should not commit a blunder to shut down the cross-LoC trade.''
We will never ever allow it to happen, she said.
Mehbooba recently skipped the swearing in ceremony of President Ramnath Kovid in Delhi. Sources said she is upset over Centre's crackdown against the separatists, some of who have helped the PDP on issues like the passing of GST bill amid opposition from separatists, opposition and traders.
The chief minister's remarks come in the backdrop of reports of dossier prepared by the NIA that cross-LoC trade is posing a security threat,
A week back, police claimed it had seized 66.5 kilograms of narcotics from a PoK truck at the Trade Facilitation Centre Salamabad in Uri.
“Let us replicate the safety parameters of Wagah (trade point) at the trading points on the LoC,'' she said. ''Mufti Sahab( her father) was always saying open all the routes: Kargil-Skardu, Jammu-Saikote, Nowshera-Jhangar, and others.”
She also called for holding an assembly session in PoK once a year and sought to fill the 25 reserved seats for PoK in J&K Legislative Assembly.
Mehbooba suggested regular tours across the LoC by students, professionals and other groups for a better understanding of the each other concerns.
“I appeal to (government) that part of Kashmir to send your school students here. This would not only promote more people to people contacts but also lower the intensity of acrimony on the two sides of the divide,” she said.
She also said Centre should revive Lahore declaration in a bid to get Kashmir out of the present situation.
“Jammu and Kashmir is a crown of India. India is incomplete with this crown. I appeal the Centre to revive Lahore declaration so that we can live in peace,” she appealed.
The opposition dismissed her statements as “rhetoric”.
“Remember what she used to say before elections and what she said after joining hands with BJP,'' said Agha Ruhulla of the NC. "It is rhetoric. She has no power. She has surrendered everything to BJP which is ruling the state.''
