The Hindu : Front Page : J&K: Kalam unveils 9-point mission

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 29, 2006

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Front Page

J&K: Kalam unveils 9-point mission

Shujaat Bukhari

But underlines the importance of durable peace in the State

WARM WELCOME: Jammu and Kashmir Governor S.K. Sinha (left), Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad (second from left), and Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffer Hussain Beigh (right) welcome President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at the Srinagar airport on Friday. Mr. Kalam later addressed a joint session of the legislature. -- PHOTO: NISSAR AHMAD

SRINAGAR: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Friday unfolded his nine-point mission for the prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir, but stressed upon the restoration of peace as essential for achieving the goal.

He unveiled the "Peace Mission for Development of Jammu and Kashmir" and advocated State-level movement to eliminate terrorism and setting up of an economic zone near the Line of Control. Addressing a joint session of the State Legislature here, Mr. Kalam said: "Our mission is to make Jammu and Kashmir a prosperous State but for that durable peace is a must," he said. He said the nation looked towards peace and development in the State. From Agro processing to Tourism, Infrastructure Development, and Employment to E-Governance the President gave a detailed account of the mission he has envisaged for the State that could be achieved by 2015.

Mr. Kalam recommended a four-point peace mission for the State and suggested an economic zone near the LoC, social development in difficult areas, State-level movement to eliminate terrorism and citizen security. "Citizens must be allowed to participate in large numbers for curbing terrorism. Schools and colleges should promote value-based education right from primary education," he said. Mr. Kalam wasthe second President after Neelam Sanjiva Reddy to address the joint session.

Referring to Kashmiri Pandit migrants, he said a "conducive environment should be created for all Kashmiris who had left the State to return and contribute to the growth."

"The police can consider creation of open police control van patrolling services in small towns and crowded areas. There is also a need to develop highway police, highway tracking and surveillance system as also the possibility of having helicopter-based surveillance system for early detection of trouble spots and [to] render assistance," Mr. Kalam said. Laying emphasis on citizen security, he said, "Citizens who wished to cooperate in the peace mission must be provided special security. The State may consider the introduction of national identity cards for all government-to-government, government-to-citizens, business-to-business and business-to-citizen transactions." The judiciary must also consider the creation of a fast judicial process for settling terrorism-related cases, he said.

Econonic zone at LoC

Mr. Kalam suggested the setting up of an economic zone at the LoC. Governor S.K. Sinha said that the State enjoyed self-rule to a degree unmatched anywhere else in the country.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad thanked Mr. Kalam for his mission and assured him that his Government would seriously study the ideas and pursue the same in the right direction. "This is a vision for our development," he said. Chairman of the Legislative Council A.R. Dar and Speaker Tara Chand addressed the session.

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