The Hindu : National : Will strengthen the peace process, says Azad

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 28, 2005

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National

Will strengthen the peace process, says Azad

New Delhi: Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, scheduled to take over as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on November 2, vowed to strengthen the peace process with Pakistan. He would supply aid to the quake-stricken region of the State before winter set in.

"Kashmir is not child's play where I can spell out my priorities so soon. But yes, the peace process is required to be strengthened. And we will take [along] all parties, from within and outside the Government, to strengthen it," Mr. Azad told mediapersons.

Sayeed welcomes

Downplaying reports of differences with the People's Democratic Party, Congress' ally, he said the outgoing Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, wholeheartedly welcomed the transfer of power as per the agreement between the two parties.

On the Congress legislators' moves to pressure the high command for a change of guard, he said: "MLAs have every right to air their grievances with their party leader." — PTI

Parties hail decision

Staff Reporter reports from Jammu:

The decision to appoint Union Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir has been welcomed by political parties here as one based on a realistic assessment of the ground realities of the State.

The Deputy Chief Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma, said the decision had a lot of political significance as it would fulfil the long time aspirations of the people of the Jammu province.

He said, "the decision also comes with a lot of responsibility for the party which has to work for the welfare of all the three regions of the State."

Panthers Party Chief Bhim Singh, who is an alliance partner of the ruling coalition, said "the decision to appoint Azad as Chief Minister is the right decision by Congress president Sonia Gandhi based on the complex reality of the State.

The argument being given by a few that only a person from the valley can be Chief Minister was an articulation of a parochial mind as the State comprises three regions and every region has to be respected. We fully hail the decision of the Congress president to fully respect the regional aspirations of all three regions of the State."National Conference president Omar Abdullah said "it is good that the Congress high command has finally taken a decision as it would end the uncertainty hanging over the State."

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