Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 3: Maintaining that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have huge stakes in peace and stability in the region, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today said the PDP would continue its efforts to seek larger political consensus for the peaceful resolution of the issues facing the State.
“There has to be a larger political consensus on how to meet the challenges confronting Jammu and Kashmir and make this a turning point in the State’s turbulent history so that our future generations have not to suffer the miseries of violence and bloodshed,” Mehbooba, who is also president of PDP, said while addressing the party cadre from district Ganderbal here.
She said that the fast-changing equations in the region offer the country’s leadership, not just a challenge, but also a great opportunity to take a giant step towards making India more at peace not only with its neighbors, but also with itself. She also urged Islamabad to take concrete Confidence Building Measures towards reviving the peace and reconciliation process in the region to end the miseries of the people.
Reiterating that there is no alternative to reconciliation, Mehbooba said people in all the regions of the State have to suffer enormous human tragedies and economic losses because of the hostility in the region. “While people living along the borders in Jammu region suffer and live under the constant threat of cross-border shelling, the people in Kashmir valley are suffering because of the continued internal strife and recurrent violence,” she said and added that peace along the borders in Jammu region and within the mainland in Kashmir is key to development and progress as had happened between 2002 and 2005.
Mehbooba said the Kashmir issue should not be seen through the security prism alone and the country’s political leadership needs to invest in J&K’s peace and own and acknowledge the pain and sufferings of its people. “People of Jammu and Kashmir should not be given to feel that their dignity is being undermined,” she said.
Reiterating her resolve to work for the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba said in a democratic setup the power lies with the public and they have to be given the due respect. She said the doors of her Ministers and civil servants should remain always open for the common people. “If any Minister and other Government functionary fail to respond effectively to genuine problems of the people, the complainants should directly approach my office,” she said and added that she would ensure effective action on such genuine issues that are brought to her notice.
PDP general secretary, Mohammad Sartaj Madni also addressed the meeting.
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