The Hindu : National : A positive gain for J&K, says Mufti

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 18, 2004

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National

A positive gain for J&K, says Mufti

By Our Staff Reporter

JAMMU, MAY 17. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, said today that the formation of a Congress-led government at the Centre would be a positive gain for the State as the complex problems confronting it would be better understood by the party.

Talking to reporters here at the conclusion of the first convocation of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology here this afternoon, the Chief Minister said that even as the outgoing National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government in New Delhi was helpful, the new government would be more positive towards Jammu and Kashmir.

Referring to the peace process initiated during the last regime, the Mufti said it was perhaps the only issue on which there was national consensus and the Congress-led Government was only expected to further this process by emotionally integrating the State.

All the political parties across the board supported this initiative. He saw no reason why the process would not be taken forward.

The Chief Minster said that his People's Democratic Party (PDP) would work as a coalition partner with the Congress at the Centre as it did in the State. "As in any coalition set-up, we would support the Central Government. The present coalition at the Centre represents the diversity of the country and this way it is a positive gain for the whole country including Jammu and Kashmir. The PDP has already promised support to the Congress."

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