President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday made a passionate appeal to the youth of Kashmir to come out of the bitter past and take lead in forging the future of the nation in every field. He assured them right to life of dignity and equal opportunities in a nation which, he said, is on move and its over one billion population is marching forward.
He said, “The India of tomorrow achieved through inclusive growth offers enormous opportunities for the youth of Kashmir if they only seize them.” Sending a word of caution across, he said, “Don’t lose any more time. The whole world is rapidly transforming itself. We in India should not be left behind.”
Mr Mukherjee, who was addressing the 18th convocation of Kashmir University here, acknowledged, though indirectly, the alienation of the people of Kashmir saying, “I’m aware that there are grievances and many important issues need deft handling and speedy resolution.” He said the governments at the Centre and in the state are “determined and duty-bound to ensure that every Kashmiri lives with dignity having equal rights and equal opportunities.”
Seizing the opportunity to be among the “bright young people” of the Valley, he sought to highlight the “relevance and the urgent need for greater tolerance in our society”. He said, “No problem is ever resolved by violence. It only aggravates the pain and the hurt on every side. The healing process must be nurtured with love, compassion and patience.”
He reiterated India is a nation on move and its over a billion population “is marching forward led by ideas, enterprise and energy of its predominantly young population”. He further said, “I’m confident that the young people of India will build a strong and powerful nation, a nation that is politically mature and economically strong, a nation whose people enjoy high quality of life as well as justice, fundamental rights and equality”. The President said the contributions of young Kashmiris are critical for India’s advancement to progress. Referring to the worst phase of turmoil in the state, he said, “Let the dark days of violence and conflict be left behind. Let a new dawn emerge. It is the time to move ahead with faith in our collective future and confidence in the largest democracy in the world, where rule of law prevails, robust institutions function and the Constitution serves as the supreme law”.