Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday advocated addressing political issues through talks, saying militancy and violence had not changed anything but only brought miseries and bloodshed to the state.
"Militancy and violence has changed not an iota on political spectrum of Jammu and Kashmir, but brought miseries, economic disaster and bloodshed," he told a public gathering.
"I have always talked for the need of talks and will continue to bat for the same to create conducive atmosphere for addressing political issues of Jammu and Kashmir politically," he said at Tral in Pulwama district.
Omar said violence has no place in resolving issues and it only adds difficulties in finding solution to problems.
"You have witnessed a saga of fear and bloodshed in 25 years. It has only damaged us and insulted the injuries. Violence has not even transferred an inch of land from this side to that side but gave tears to every household in the state. It converted our play-fields into graveyards and happy homes into mourning dens," he said.
He asked if his agenda of resolving political issues in a political process through sustained dialogue with all stakeholders were incorrect, "then what is the way forward?
"Tell me what is the solution other than talking across the table in a peaceful and amicable atmosphere?" he posed. Omar said separatists have not been able to achieve anything for people of the state.
“The result is before you. They (separatists) have not been able to deliver anything other than creating bloodshed and bundles of difficulties for people. Their claim of changing the system and the flag of the state proved totally a failure and they were not able to remove even a bunker from the state not to talk of changing the system," he said.
"Now, they are talking of scarcity of electricity and construction of infrastructure," he said, adding developmental aspects and improvement in electricity will not come from across the border or by talking to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief's Envoy Sartaj Aziz.
"It will come when you become part of the system and handle affairs of the state in a democratic way," he said.
