Not enough,walk the talk: Separatists,parties to PM

Moderate Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq asked the Prime Minister to act rather than talk. This time New Delhi should also take some action on the ground. Well-intentioned statements will no longer serve any purpose, he told the Express.

Mirwaiz urged New Delhi to withdraw forces from the state,revoke the AFSPA Armed Forces Special Powers Act,release political prisoners and allow people to protest peacefully. Such initiatives would create necessary confidence and trust to start a meaningful dialogue on Kashmir.

The PDP said the PMs statement was good on tone and tenor but failed on substance. There is no roadmap for a political solution or the kind of solution that is under consideration. This would have given people something to look forward to, PDP chief spokesperson Nayeem Akther said.

The National Conference welcomed the PMs speech but advised Delhi to act quickly to resolve the political aspect of the Kashmir issue.

Senior leader Mehboob Beig urged Delhi to engage all shades of opinion. You cannot ignore Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Geelani sahib told people to stage peaceful protests and this happening. He also appealed to youngsters not to pelt stones and they are following him. So let us face reality8230; Delhi has to engage the separatists.

On the streets,the PMs remarks found little resonance. Arshid Nabi,19,said: India has failed once again. At a time when people wanted to hear words of concern,we hear the same rhetoric.

A local resident,Majid Ahmad,called the PMs appeal to Kashmiri youth to go back to their schools and colleges and resume studies a joke. It shows disrespect towards peoples sentiments that is bringing them out on the streets. This will only anger the youth more.