Recalling former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, leaders from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC), the two prominent parties of Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday, 20 August urged the BJP-led government to follow the path shown by him for resolving the Kashmir issue and reach out to the people in the valley and start dialogue with Pakistan.
NC leader Farooq Abdullah and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti paid rich tributes to Vajpayee and appreciated his approach towards Kashmir, at a prayer meeting for the departed leader organised by the BJP.
Abdullah described Vajpayee as a man with a "big heart" and said he did not differentiate between the people. He always tried to end hatred among the countrymen and with neighbours as well by taking various initiatives.
Vajpayee was perhaps the first prime minister who trusted the people of Kashmir Valley and won their trust also, PDP leader Mehbooba said.
Mehbooba urged the current dispensation that the best tribute for Vajpayee could be by following the same humanitarian approach towards Kashmir and initiating talks with Pakistan.
Both Abdullah and Mehbooba are former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir and were also allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on different occasions.
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