Prime Minister Narendra Modi broken up his silence on the ongoing protests in Kashmir valley and said that, "it is sad that boys who should be holding laptops, cricket bats have been handed stones in their hands."

PM Modi said while addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Alirajpur district, that, "Every Indian loves Kashmir. The freedom that every Indian has also belongs to every Kashmiri. We want the same bright future for every youth in Kashmir."

"Whatever Kashmiris want for betterment of their livelihood, the Centre will help. We want development for Jammu and Kashmir. Be it the J&K government under Mehboob Mufti or the central government, we are finding solution to all problems through development," the PM said.

According to the PM, a few misguided people are trying to create disturbance in the Kashmir valley but the government is determined to restore normalcy in the state.

"There are ways, including dialogue, to resolve issues in a democracy. My government believes in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's mantra of "insaniyat, jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat (humanity, democracy and Kashmiriyat)," the PM said.

Around 55 people, including two cops, have been killed and several thousand others injured in the clashes between protesters and security forces since the killing of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter. Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8.

Also Read: Kashmir unrest: CM Mehbooba Mufti meets Home Minister Rajnath Singh

Nandini