NEW DELHI, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Opposition leaders in Indian-controlled Kashmir led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday sought Indian President Pranab Mukherjee's intervention to end the ongoing crisis in the region.
The leaders strongly criticized the local and federal governments for, as they described, mishandling the situation in the restive region.
"We have requested the President to impress upon the central government to initiate a credible and meaningful dialogue process with all stakeholders to address the political issue pertaining to the state," Abdullah told media after the meeting.
The 20-member delegation held an hour-long meeting with Mukherjee at the Presidential Residence in New Delhi.
"The failure of the central government to acknowledge that the issue in Kashmir is largely of a political nature has worsened the already volatile situation," Abdullah said.
Abdullah has backed the Indian army's call for dialogue among stakeholders.
A top Indian military commander, Lt Gen D S Hooda on Friday appealed separatists and all other players in Indian-controlled Kashmir to help restore peace and normalcy in the region.
"I feel sad that what we wanted to hear from our political leadership is unfortunately coming from Army leadership. Northern Commander today thinks that there should be talks with all people who have a different mindset. So the question is, why our political leaders could not do this," said Abdullah.
Large-scale protests against New Delhi's rule are going on in the Muslim majority areas of the restive region since July 8.
The protests broke out following the killing of Burhan Muzaffar Wani, a top militant commander of separatist group Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).
Despite prolonged curfew and restrictions to clampdown on protesters, clashes and protests seemed to be intensifying on Saturday.
The death toll of civilians in the standoff has gone up to 62, besides injuries of thousands of civilians and hundreds of government forces personnel.
Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the psyche of majority of Kashmiris. Irate residents defying curfew and restrictions took to the streets at several places and clashed with police.
The youth threw stones and brickbats on contingents of police and paramilitary, who responded by firing tear smoke shells, pellets and bullets, which often proved fatal.
The shutdown and restrictions has affected normal life in the region, with people complaining dearth of essentials and eatables. A shortage of medicines has been reported in the region.
A separatist movement and guerrilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.
In 2010, a similar wave of violence hit the region and claimed over 100 lives during clashes.
Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
The weeks of turbulence in Indian-controlled Kashmir has added a new confrontation in the already strained relations between the two countries.
