Srinagar, June 7 (IANS) His finger right on the pulse of his audience, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday connected well with Kashmiris when he addressed a gathering in the language they understand the best – Urdu.
At the fifth convocation of an agricultural university here, Manmohan Singh, who loves listening to Urdu poetry of Ghalib, spoke in chaste Urdu for his nearly 25-minute speech praying to ‘khuda’ (god) for the ‘taraqqi’ (prosperity) and ‘kaamyaabi’ (success) of Kashmiris.
He addressed them as ‘doston’ (friends), knowing the ‘ahamiyat’ (importance – the word he used frequently) of the language while addressing the ‘naujawan’ (youth) of the state that has been battling separatist violence since 1989.
‘Hamare naujawan hamaare mulk ka mustaqbil hain. Hamein apne naujawanon se bahut badi umeedein hain,’ he said about the expectations he has from the youth of the only Muslim majority state in India. Urdu is the official language of Jammu and Kashmir.
The prime minister chose to call it ‘Hindustan’ rather than India or Bharat ‘where Kashmiri youth can find lots of avenues for their ‘zahni (psychological), jazbaati (emotional) and peshawarana (professional) taraqqi’.
It was Manmohan Singh’s empathetic tone toward disillusioned Kashmiris that attracted rapt attention from the audience inviting frequent applause.
‘Main jaanta hoon ki behtareen taaleem haasil karne ke baad bhi kam mauqe milne se kis qadr maayoosi hoti hai… Hum rozgaar ke mufeed mauqe faraham karenge,’ the prime minister said sharing the disillusion of Kashmiri youth and assuring them that adequate employment opportunities will be created.
He did mention that he was aware of the alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir by security forces, particularly in the context of three Kashmiri civilians purportedly killed by army in a staged shootout.
‘Human rights ki paamali (abuse) se mutalliq aapki shikayaton se main waaqif hoon,’ he said, adding ‘salaamati ke daste (security forces)’ have been strictly ordered to show ‘sabr-o-tahammul (patience)’ and protect ‘huqooq (rights)’ of the people.
About the economic reconstruction and development of the state, he said the government had initiated a programme of ‘iqtisaadi taameer-e-nau aur taraqqi’ for which he had consulted ‘behtareen iqtisaadi maahireen (the best economic experts)’.
He also congratulated the students of the university who were handed over degrees.
‘Main unko mubarakbaad deta hoon jinhone aaj degree haasil ki… Kucch pecheeda masaail ke bawajood main aap sabe ke liye roshan mustaqbil dekh raha hoon… Khuda kare aap ke raaste roshan hon,’ he said praying for the bright future of Kashmiri youth.
