The Hindu : Mufti gives people the credit for return of normality

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 17, 2003

Other States

Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

Mufti gives people the credit for return of normality

By Our Staff Reporter

Jammu May 16 . The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today gave credit to the people of the State and all the national parties, which had backed his policies for the turnaround in situation and refuted the argument that U.S. pressure was responsible for the change.

Addressing a rally today in Poonch, a border district of Jammu region, the Mufti said, "People have wrong conceptions that the United States policy change towards the sub-continent is the factor responsible for the present situation in the State."

" We do not claim credit for the change. It is the blood-drenched people of the State who want peace and this is the pressure which is finally making the State return to normalcy," he said, adding that prolonged violence and bloodshed had turned the people against the gun.

Referring to the peace moves between India and Pakistan, he said the main beneficiaries would be the people of the State, especially those living in the border districts of Jammu — Rajouri and Poonch — who were victims of the daily Pakistan shelling.

He also handed over appointment letters to 29 persons, who were the kin of victims affected by militancy in the State.

The Deputy Chief Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma, said the border districts of Jammu were getting due attention from the Government.

He ruled out any plan to divide the State and hoped Indo-Pak ties would improve.

Senior local leaders of the Congress and People's Democratic Party were present.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

Stories in this Section

Mufti gives people the credit for return of normality