PM Modi reaches out to people of Kashmir, appeals for peace

Breaking his silence on the over-a-month-long unrest which has claimed more than 55 lives, Modi said it was painful to see that innocent youngsters, who should be holding laptops, book and cricket bats, have been given stones and appealed to them for maintaining peace and harmony in the "heaven" on earth.

He said Kashmir has the freedom which is felt by Indians everywhere and asserted that the Mehbooba Mufti government and the Centre are working together to solve the state's difficulties but some people, who are unable to digest it, are clinging onto the path to destruction.

"When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister he had adopted the path of insaniyat, jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat and we walk the same road. I want to tell the brothers and sisters of Kashmir from this great birthplace of Chandra Shekhar Azad that Kashmir has the same strength that has been given to (other parts of) India by our freedom fighters. Kashmir has the same freedom that every Indian feels.

"Today, one feels pained to see that innocent youths have been handed stones. Politics of some people is clicking but what will happen to these gullible and simple youths. Humanity and Kashmiriyat will not be allowed to be hit. The path of democracy and dialogue is there," he told a public meeting here, the birthplace of Azad.