Srinagar,
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has lauded the country’s political leadership, judiciary, media and the civil society for standing with the J&K Government to ensure justice in the Kathua rape and murder case, saying that it will go a long way in restoring the people’s confidence in the institutions.

“The essence of India’s democracy lies in its robust institutions and it has been once again established that the institutions have the grit to ensure justice with all sections of society cutting across the divide,” Mehbooba said while addressing a meeting of the PDP legislators and party leaders here on Saturday.

The CM equally commended the role of the people of Jammu for having discounted the divisive agenda of the rabid, fringe elements and coming out with unwavering support for the little girl.

“It has strengthened my belief that Jammu serves as a model of inclusiveness and together the people of J&K inspire secular unity and righteousness,” she said, adding that this serves as a cue that the people of Jammu and Kashmir can hold a beacon of hope for the whole country amid harshly polarised discourse.

She said the way the whole country had come out seeking justice for innocent Kathua girl had generated a new hope among the people in J&Kwhich needed to be built on to recreate an inclusive India.

“Intolerance and hate are hitting at the country’s core values and posing a great threat to pluralism, the only option for achieving the goals India has set out for,” she said, adding that India comprises a composite culture and no one has domination in it.

“We have to keep this civilisation alive. If we get derailed, we cannot achieve what we have set out for,” she maintained.

Mehbooba said while the ultimate solution to the momentous challenges confronting Jammu and Kashmir shall have to be worked out both on the internal and external fronts through a sustained process of engagement, what was needed urgently in Kashmir was that elements of sanity, common sense and pragmatism shall have to be picked up in the light of the global and subcontinental realities and make use of political and democratic means to voice our concerns.

Stressing the urgency of responding to the challenges in Jammu and Kashmir through tangible political measures before the crisis degenerates into a catastrophe, Mehbooba said the people of J&K, irrespective of their age, gender, status or political affiliation, had been suffering the disastrous consequences of the political uncertainties plaguing the state.