Excelsior Correspondent
BUDGAM, July 27: Seeking people’s cooperation in shaping up a politically stable and economically emancipated Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today said the political and developmental process and good governance have to go hand in hand to put the State back on track.
“Perhaps more than ever before, people of J&K today want the politicians to stand up and address the political and economic issues that matter to them and I urge the country’s political leadership to make a fresh start to revive the peace and reconciliation process in the State through tangible Confidence Building Measures,” the Chief Minister said while interacting with civil society representatives here today.
Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, Legislator, Saif-ud-Din Bhat and former legislator, Dr Shafi were present during the interaction.
Calling for an end to the violent protests which have resulted in the loss of precious human lives and grave injuries, the Chief Minister said; “Violence has neither served any purpose in the past, nor is it going to do so in future except bringing miseries to the people.” She said it is tragic to note that the victims belong to the poorest of the poor families and it is the parents of these slain youth who shall to live with this trauma forever. “Having played their politics over the dead bodies of the youth, nobody is going to come and give solace to these families after some time,” she said.
Maintaining that her Government is striving for a space of dignity and opportunity for the people of Jammu & Kashmir in a larger paradigm of peace and reconciliation in the region, the Chief Minister called upon the country’s political leadership to take measures to address the causes of alienation and trust deficit in Kashmir and work towards finding a lasting solution to the problems plaguing the State and its people. “All shades of political opinion in the state and the country shall have to evolve a consensus on a pragmatic and workable solution of the problems confronting J&K in the interest of peace and stability in the state and the region,” she said and added that the time has come to strike a new benchmark in light of the global and regional realities for the resolution of the State’s problems.
She said the youth have to be singled out as a target group deserving specific attention. She said the kind of a violent situation J&K has gone through, over the past two decades, has deeply affected our society as a whole and our youth in particular. “Young people have been particularly affected by the collapse of education and employment opportunities in the State,” she said and added that the Government will launch a process, which will prepare young people to meet the challenges of future through a series of coordinated, progressive programs and activities.
The Chief Minister said the Government shall have to consider new ways to involve youth and allow them to offer input during decision-making, problem solving, and action-taking activities. “Active collaboration with youth will engage them in ways that will open doors for them to contribute,” she said and added it is ironic to note that while on one side our bright young boys and girls are making us proud by qualifying prestigious competitive examinations and getting admission in reputed institutions like St Stephens, on the other hand some youth belonging to poorest of the poor families are being exploited and handed over stones instead of pen.
Besides members of Civil Society groups, representatives of various religious and trade bodies were also present during the interaction.
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