<p>In the ongoing debate over the "alienation" versus “integration” of Jammu & Kashmir, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was one leader whose popularity in the strife-torn Kashmir Valley never waned.<br /> <br />"On Thursday, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted: “Can never forget the love and affection he showered upon me every time we met.” The BJP recently withdrew from the alliance government with the PDP in June.</p>.<p>Turning emotional, National Congress chief Farooq Abdullah said, “He was a leader who wanted to take all sections of people. He had love for everyone.” His son Omar Abdullah prayed for “Vajpayee Sahib and his family."</p>.<p>Vajpayee’s line on Kashmir when he said that the issue can be resolved within the parameters of “Insaniyat (humanity), Jamhooriyat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat (eclectic Kashmiri culture) at a rally in the Valley in 2003 resonates even today, and he has a special place in the political firmament of the people in the militancy-torn state.</p>.<p>Ever since the BJP-PDP alliance was firmed up to form a government in March 2015, the Vajpayee model of resolving Kashmir issue kept coming up. </p>.<p>Mehbooba's father and founder of the PDP Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said in 2015 that he expects the prime minister to do an Atal Bihari Vajpayee and reach out to Pakistan.</p>.<p>Vajpayee’s famous remarks have found resonance time and again whenever the Kashmir issue came to a boiling point.<br /> <br />In 2017, even Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, in a video address to his supporters, said: “We want India to exhibit 'Insaniyat', 'Kashmiriat' and 'Jamhooriyat' (democracy). Nothing else.”</p>.<p>The famous remarks of Vajpayee resonated once again on August 15 from the ramparts of the Red Fort, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi unequivocally said: “Regarding Jammu & Kashmir, the path shown by Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji is the right one. We want to move ahead on that road."</p>.<p>Related Links:<br /> </p>.<ul> <li><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/former-pm-atal-bihari-vajpayee-687867.html">Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee passes away </a></li> <li><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/many-faces-atal-bihari-687878.html">The many faces of Atal Bihari Vajpayee</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/blend-strength-and-stratagem-687875.html">Atal Bihari Vajpayee: A blend of strength and stratagem</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/man-who-made-india-nuclear-687870.html">The man who made India a nuclear power</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/vajpayees-signals-opposition-687814.html">Vajpayee's signals to the Opposition</a></li></ul>
<p>In the ongoing debate over the "alienation" versus “integration” of Jammu & Kashmir, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was one leader whose popularity in the strife-torn Kashmir Valley never waned.<br /> <br />"On Thursday, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted: “Can never forget the love and affection he showered upon me every time we met.” The BJP recently withdrew from the alliance government with the PDP in June.</p>.<p>Turning emotional, National Congress chief Farooq Abdullah said, “He was a leader who wanted to take all sections of people. He had love for everyone.” His son Omar Abdullah prayed for “Vajpayee Sahib and his family."</p>.<p>Vajpayee’s line on Kashmir when he said that the issue can be resolved within the parameters of “Insaniyat (humanity), Jamhooriyat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat (eclectic Kashmiri culture) at a rally in the Valley in 2003 resonates even today, and he has a special place in the political firmament of the people in the militancy-torn state.</p>.<p>Ever since the BJP-PDP alliance was firmed up to form a government in March 2015, the Vajpayee model of resolving Kashmir issue kept coming up. </p>.<p>Mehbooba's father and founder of the PDP Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said in 2015 that he expects the prime minister to do an Atal Bihari Vajpayee and reach out to Pakistan.</p>.<p>Vajpayee’s famous remarks have found resonance time and again whenever the Kashmir issue came to a boiling point.<br /> <br />In 2017, even Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, in a video address to his supporters, said: “We want India to exhibit 'Insaniyat', 'Kashmiriat' and 'Jamhooriyat' (democracy). Nothing else.”</p>.<p>The famous remarks of Vajpayee resonated once again on August 15 from the ramparts of the Red Fort, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi unequivocally said: “Regarding Jammu & Kashmir, the path shown by Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji is the right one. We want to move ahead on that road."</p>.<p>Related Links:<br /> </p>.<ul> <li><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/former-pm-atal-bihari-vajpayee-687867.html">Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee passes away </a></li> <li><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/many-faces-atal-bihari-687878.html">The many faces of Atal Bihari Vajpayee</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/blend-strength-and-stratagem-687875.html">Atal Bihari Vajpayee: A blend of strength and stratagem</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/man-who-made-india-nuclear-687870.html">The man who made India a nuclear power</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/vajpayees-signals-opposition-687814.html">Vajpayee's signals to the Opposition</a></li></ul>
