The Hindu : It is a testing time for us: Mufti

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 15, 2004

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National

It is a testing time for us: Mufti

By Shujaat Bukhari

BARAMULLA, FEB. 14. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, launched the election campaign today, addressing a public meeting here.

Asking the people to get ready for the elections, he said "this is a testing time for us" and it had been a period of development and peace.

He urged the people to "judge us by our performance during the last 15 months." The people wanted peace and it was time to give it a chance to usher in prosperity and development in the State.

On the policy of rehabilitation for surrendering militants, he said "misconceptions need to be removed on this."

A large number of militants had responded positively and it should be seen as a "rehabilitation policy" rather than a "surrender policy." The Mufti accused the previous Government of misusing funds provided by the Central Government, saying "our Government has ensured transparency in the system which has been acknowledged by both the Centre and the Opposition."

He told reporters that headway had been made in the opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and that he hoped a final decision would be taken during the coming meeting between the representatives of India and Pakistan.

The State Finance Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Beig, said there was remarkable change in the atmosphere and "those who were holding guns are now busy planning their future."

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for the North Kashmir campus of the Kashmir University in Delina near Baramulla.

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