The Hindu : National : "Kashmir issue needs immediate attention"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 13, 2006

National

National

"Kashmir issue needs immediate attention"

Shujaat Bukhari

People's Democratic Party seeks "measured reduction" of troops and withdrawal of special power Acts

SRINAGAR: Besides demanding "measured reduction" of troops and withdrawing the Acts giving special powers to Armed Forces, the People's Democratic Party has said that the time was ripe for finding an long-lasting peaceful solution of the Kashmir problem and that it was time for building public and political opinion across the country.

At the end of two days special session of party's general council, the PDP founder and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said that Kashmir issue needs immediate attention in order to see durable peace in the region which will ultimately lead to prosperity and development. "We are ready for any sacrifice to ensure that the people of the State come out of the psychological dilemma of decades impeding their prosperity" he said urging all the political parties, both mainstream and separatists to contribute towards the peaceful resolution of this vexed problem, he at the same time urged the militants to respond to the people's yearning for peace and announce a ceasefire. He said the history has provided a great opportunity to us to bring Jammu and Kashmir out of the morass and put it back on the path of peace and prosperity. "Let's not miss the bus as such occasions rarely come in the history of nations," he said and added that if everybody acts with responsibility and sensibly at this crucial juncture a break-through is sure.

Seeking Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh's help in building nationwide consensus on any solution by taking along all the shades of political opinion, Sayeed said the solution needs to take care of the aspirations of the people of different regions of the State and it ought to further strengthen the State's unique character and constitutional status.He said India has shown tremendous flexibility on the issue and it is necessary that initiative is now consolidated by mobilizing public opinion. He said PDP would continue to play a pioneering role in facilitating the peaceful resolution of the issue and it would not shirk away from paying any sacrifice for the same.

Sayeed said PDP's policy of healing-touch and winning the hearts and minds of people has withstood the challenges of time.

He said his government ensured that there is general relief to people in the security situation and the security forces actively cooperated with his government in this endeavour. Hailing the leadership of India and Pakistan for initiating the opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road for trade, the PDP Patron said that the party would be launching a statewide celebration program from 14th May to highlight the benefits of the cross-LoC trade.

Speaking on the occasion, PDP President, Ms Mehbooba Mufti said that owing to the overall improvement in the situation in the State a need has arisen for withdrawal of laws, like Disturbed Area Act, that vest unaccounted powers with Armed forces in the State. She said this would give a message of

not only improved situation in the State but of heightened people's trust in the democratic institutions. She demanded handing over of the internal security of the state to the State police, which is trained to handle such situations.

Urging the militants to contribute towards the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir problem, Ms Mufti asked them to declare a ceasefire and play a positive role in the negotiations so that peace process gets a chance to succeed. She at the same time asked the governments of India and Pakistan to take more bold initiatives in respect of Jammu and Kashmir.

Terming the PDP-Congress alliance as value-based, Ms Mufti said that this alliance is of both the national significance and in the interest of the State. She expressed satisfaction over the performance of the alliance.

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