Srinagar,
Senior BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta on Wednesday said the party was committed to “bringing back” Pakistan-occupied Kashmir .

“The entire civil society should come forward… Some time back, few mothers had made an appeal and some came back. Forget that Pakistan is going to get Kashmir… we will bring back Pakistan’s Kashmir,” Gupta told reporters on the sidelines of a party function held here.

He made the comments when asked about the government’s plan of action in the wake of the Valley youth taking to militancy.

However, Gupta also said Pakistan should come forward with an “open heart” to engage in the peace initiatives taken up by the Centre.

“We have extended the hand of friendship before as well but Pakistan did not accept it. We have given them one more chance and they should take it. Pakistan should come forward with an open heart,” Gupta said in the wake of the ceasefire announced after the border situation was reviewed by the Directors-General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan yesterday.

Gupta said the government wanted restoration of peace in the state while referring to the recent comment of Home Minister Rajnath Singh that the Centre was ready to hold dialogue with the Hurriyat Conference leadership if the separatists came forward. “A beginning has been made…there will be talks…both the Centre and state want restoration of peace,” he said.