Azad’s Kupwara remark draws

‘‘The PM’s commitment needs to be followed up with action and a practical policy,’’ Mufti said. ‘‘I urge the PM that his assurance to curb human rights violations in the state is strictly adhered to and nobody is allowed to go against this commitment,’’ he said.

Sayeed said that peaceful demonstrations are a democratic right of the people and need to be respected. ‘‘The recent unfortunate incidents seem to have vitiated the atmosphere and call for urgent measures to address the people’s concerns to prevent reversal of the gains of the peace process.’’

The former CM’s remarks came after Azad said the protestors ‘‘should not have taken law into their own hands and that the crowd of around 10,000 had assembled to set ablaze the army camp which triggered the army reaction’’.

An official spokesperson also issued a clarification saying Azad ‘‘very specifically said the government is against firing on civilians by police or security forces’’.

Azad’s remarks, however, triggered strong reaction from both mainstream and separatist political parties. National Conference president Omar Abdullah had led a protest demonstration and said, ‘‘We have never seen innocent children protestors being fired upon,’’ he said. Now, the PDP leader has expressed dismay over these developments though without mentioning him by name.

Sayeed, today, also expressed dismay at the ‘‘recent hardening of stances by India and Pakistan’’ and said ‘‘the warmth and the bonhomie that had characterised the attitude of the two countries in recent years appears to have been marred by some hawkish utterances’’.

‘‘The PM’s proposed visit to Pakistan should stay aboard to push the process forward and his visit would provide the much-needed boost to the sagging peace process,’’ he said.