Baramulla/Srinagar, July 5 (Scoop News) – J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the lines between the two countries cannot be redrawn but they can be made irrelevant and we must all work towards that. He said during Manmohan – Musharaf talks we were close to a solution but circumstances derailed the process, but we should not lose heart and restart an effort to initiate a meaningful dialogue and strengthen the confidence building measures between the two Nations and the people on both sides of Jammu & Kashmir.
Addressing citizens in Baramulla today, Omar said time has come to go to the root of the problem in Kashmir and address it with all sincerity. He appealed to the Union Government that while a dialogue has started between India and Pakistan at different levels, a political dialogue between the Centre and different shades of opinion within the state must also start in right earnest and his government is ready to act as a facilitator for such a dialogue. At the same time he also appealed to all shades of opinion to leave behind their personal agendas and come forward for a meaningful dialogue in the interest of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
Referring to the Uri-Muzafarabad road he said the initiative of opening Uri-Muzafarabad road is incomplete as long as it is only confined to the divided families. He urged the Union Government to open the Uri-Muzafarabad road for all the people of Jammu & Kashmir living across the line of control irrespective of whether they have relatives on either side. He said that for peace to come to Jammu & Kashmir it is imperative that people to people contact between the two parts of Jammu & Kashmir must start and that there should be free movement of people across the LoC. He said he wished that someday in his life time Muzafarabad and Srinagar are linked by railway line.
Omar said his government will work with the Union Government to strengthen the cross LoC trade and change it from a barter system to proper trade where the financial transactions actually happen through the banking system.
Omar Abdullah said his government is not a selected government but a democratically elected government of the people of Jammu & Kashmir and therefore “we owe it to the people of Jammu & Kashmir to live up to their expectation and full fill their aspirations”. He said his government is committed to the people of the state and will work for them as per their wishes. Omar said he will continue to reach out to the people at the grass root level, understand their aspirations and strive to resolve the issues close to their heart as per their expectations. He said his government is for the people of Jammu & Kashmir and shall fight for their rights and address their issues. He further announced that he will soon roll out a programme of meeting the civil society at the Tehsil level.
Omar said the democracy gives a right to opinion and expression and he is not the one to stifle this right of anyone. He said that those who do not agree with him also should come forward show their dissent in a peaceful manner discuss and debate various issues pertaining to the people of Jammu & Kashmir, so that together a consensus can be formulated and a road map for a Naya Kashmir be rolled out which is for a better, brighter and peaceful Jammu & Kashmir.
Referring to the developmental initiatives taken by the state government, the Chief Minister said that in the last eighteen months the state government has taken various initiatives to bring in systemic changes in the process of expanding the road network, strengthening the power sector, streamlining the health sector and focused development of vocational education. He said there are certain elements in the society who are not happy with these initiatives and always try to derail the process of development during the limited working season available in the valley, but the state government is determined to fight these forces, he added.
Omar said it is unfortunate that these disturbances affect the education of the children, tourism, trade commerce and developmental activities but we have not lost hope and we will continue in our endeavor to provide good governance and accelerate the developmental process.
The speakers in the meeting besides giving suggestions for maintenance peace also talked about developmental issues pertaining to Baramulla district. They also stressed on enforcing restraint in security forces while dealing with public demonstrations
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The meeting started with prayers for those who have lost their lives in recent incidents. The participants offered a Fatiha for peace to the departed souls and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families.
The meeting was attended by the Ministers, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minster of State Javaid Dar, Advisors to Chief Minister Mubarak Gul , Devender Singh Rana, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister ,Khurshed A. Ganai, Special Commissioner M.S. Khan and Special IGP Pankaj Saxena.