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J&K Government enthused by response to civic polls

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, JAN. 30. Encouraged by the brisk polling in the civic elections in north Kashmir on Saturday, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today said that the Government will gear up for the panchayat elections, to see the "devolution of power becoming a reality."

"Strong panchayats will change the face of development in the State and people are keen to see that," Mr. Sayeed told reporters at his residence here. "Since the massive participation of people in the civic elections has exhibited the confidence and the desire of people to strengthen democratic institutions, the next step will be to hold the panchayat elections which will really ensure complete participation of people in the governance." People had defied the threats of militants and the boycott call of separatists such as the Hurriyat.

Mr. Sayeed said that these elections should be an eye-opener for those who opposed them and the time had come for them to shun the negative politics.

Reiterating his Government's commitment to hand over power to people at the lowest level, he said: "Developmental work would receive a boost with the participation of people at the ground level. People will take their own decisions as far as the development in their respective areas is concerned."

`Myth dispelled'

Mr. Sayeed said that with the increased participation in the civic polls the myth that "everything about Kashmir was being decided in Delhi has also gone." The success of the civic polls was a "vindication of the policies of the State Government and the democratic process."

Asked about separatists not going ahead with the dialogue process, Mr. Sayeed said: "On the one hand they say that they represent the people's aspirations and on the other hand they are running away from the democratic process."

Parties such as the Hurriyat Conference should have acted as the flag bearers of the peace process, he said.

Mr. Sayeed said that his party was not averse to talks on autonomy, with the National Conference or any other party, but "the talks should be held with the separatists as well. They need to be engaged in a purposeful and meaningful dialogue."

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