Senior congress leader Saifuddin makes controversial comment on Burhan Wani’s death

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz commented on Burhan Wani’s encounter last year on June 8, what could possibly trigger controversy saying he would have chosen to keep Hizbul mujahideen commander Burhan Wani alive and have a dialogue with him. “Mere bas mein hota toh Burhan Wani ko zinda rakhta aur unse dialogue karta (If it were up to me, Burhan Wani would have been kept alive and a dialogue would have taken place) said the senior congress leader.

The commander was regarded with high respect in the Valley whose encounter created violent protests which continued for months. The violent protests reported nearly 100 deaths and many more being seriously injured.

The leader had earlier suggested that the government withdraws the ‘draconian’ AFSPA law from the Valley and instead initiate talks with ‘opinion leaders’ in Kashmir.

This year in May Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government is planning to take steps in J&K where the government will permanently solve the issue.

He was quoted saying “We have come up with a permanent solution to solve Kashmir. The initiative has begun. We are moving forward.”

However, when he was further pressed to reveal more about the same, Singh replied saying “It is too early to discuss it in public. I don’t want to discuss it with the media”, reported the sources.