Peace activist O. P. Shah meets civil society & social activist delegation led by Mirwaiz Hassan Firdousi

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, JUNE 20 (STC): A prominent Kolkata-based track-2 diplomat and peace activist, Om Prakash Shah, popularly known in Kashmir as O. P. Shah, today called upon Mirwaiz Hassan Firdousi at his Lawaypora Srinagar office, where he met several members of civil society and social activists.
Notably O. P. Shah is the chairman of the Centre for Peace and Progress and is actively involved in Kashmir affairs since 1991 through civil society dialogues aimed at bridging divides particularly India-Pakistan relations and peace-building in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the interaction with the delegation of civil society and social activists, O. P. Shah was told about the need to capitalise on the present peaceful situation and ‘restore statehood’ to the region without any delay. The emphasis was laid on peace, prosperity and dignity by invoking the full constitutional rights.
“Harassment of Kashmiris, including in outside J&K regions on one pretext or the other should end. Let rest of India be told once for all that Kashmiris are nationalists and true patriots as it’s because of Kashmiris support that the government was able to restore peace in the region,” the delegation led by Mirwaiz Hassan Firdousi told Shah.
Raising the issue of rampant unemployment in Kashmir, the delegation said that the authorities need to focus seriously on eradicating the menace of joblessness. “Our youth is talented like any other youth of the country. Even our Home Minister Amit Shah has endorsed the capability of Kashmiri youth by stating the ‘Kashmiri youth is capable of leading the world’. Capitalise on our youths’ talent and give them recognition in nation-building by creating jobs for them,” said the delegation.
O. P. Shah patiently listened to the delegation and responded with assurances that there suggestion and demands would be taken up at respective quarters at the centre. Endorsing their views, he said, “Of course, harassment of citizens, if any, should end and steps be taken to allow Kashmiris to live with dignity and have a prosperous life as they have been instrumental in pulling Kashmir out of worst turmoil where violence resulting in arson and killings was order of the day for more than three decades.”
Meanwhile, Shah also laid emphasis on the importance of healthy Indo-Pak relations and strongly pitched for a dialogue. “India and Pakistan cannot afford confrontation for long. No war can prove fruitful for both the countries. Resuming dialogue and allowing people-to-people contact is the only solution to defuse tension. Otherwise, both the countries would be facing economic crisis and divided societies leading to not only political but also social disorder,” the track-2 diplomat said.
He appealed to both countries to work out modalities for restoring peace dialogue to allow themselves to grow with peace, prosperity and dignity.
Mirwaiz Hassan Firdousi thanked O. P. Shah for visiting his office and holding meaningful interaction with the civil society and social activists. He assured him that they would continue to pursue peaceful means to see an end to the miseries of Kashmiris.
(Straight Talk Communications)