Separatists inciting children to engage in violence, but themselves fear cops: Mehbooba

Taking separatist leaders head-on, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today accused them of instigating the children in the Valley to engage in violence while making sure their own studied abroad or outside the state.

"My colleagues have this (fear) that I may say something.

But, I have always spoken truth. The way a mother slaps her child when he tries to touch a hot kangri (firepot), I will do the same to save my people.

"I will be angry, I will speak truth and warn them not to use children as a shield (during street protests)," Mehbooba told a gathering at an official event, invoking motherhood that is devoted to the welfare of the child.

She exuded confidence that the Valley will come out of the "misery" as her intentions were noble. "Majority of the people want an honourable solution to the issue. Nobody wants violence except for those who don't have to face impact of this violence as their own children are studying outside the Valley.

"They ask the children to fight bullets, pellets and teargas, but themselves fear a policeman," she said.

Taking on the separatists, she said they were "exploiting" children in the Valley only after having made sure that their studied outside.

She, however, hoped the situation would get back to normal.

"Time will not remain like this always, but wounds will be there on the hearts of the children which these people have inflicted. Today, people will find my words bitter, but they will later understand what I said because I saw many people roaming the streets at night provoking children to join the protests.

"God is witness, that their (the separatists') own children study in Malaysia, Dubai, Bangalore and Rajasthan. If a single child of these people has been injured in the protests in these days, I am ready to quit politics," she said at the function organised to distribute LED bulbs under the Centre's 'UJALA' scheme.

The function was organized by Union Power Ministry, State Power Development Department and Energy Efficiency Services Limited a joint-venture of PSUs under the Ministry of Power.

--PTI