Srinagar: The separatist group led by Syed Ali Geelani today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to act as a statesman and take brave steps that would pave the way for the “overall development of India and peace in the subcontinent”.The statement issued by the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference also termed Kashmir as a “serious and sensitive political issue”.“The construction of roads or inaugurations of tunnels are of lesser importance. However, it is hard to come up to the expectations and accept hard realities,” the Hurriyat said, referring to the PM’s inauguration of the Chenani-Nashri tunnel today. The party said the tunnel “is a good step, however, it won’t help or serve any substitute for the aspirations of youth”.The separatist faction said the shutdown, called jointly by three separatist groups, including the faction led by Geelani, was an “eye-opener and serves as a message that the Kashmir issue can’t be solved or shelved through the cosmetic approach.”In a rare reconciliatory message, however, the separatist group asked the PM “to take brave steps and act as statesman”. “This will pave the way for the overall development in India and peace in the subcontinent. It will prove helpful for South Asia and India too will get rid of many complex problems being faced at home,” it said.“Mr Modi has two options, either follow his predecessors with closed eyes or act as a statesman and make history by taking bold steps,” it said. “There is nothing extraordinary in opening roads. Anybody can throw open these tracks and tunnels. However, realising realities and using wisdom for resolution needs extraordinary willpower and determination,” it said.