The Hindu : Talk to all sides in Kashmir, Sonia urges Centre

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 02, 2003

Other States

Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

Talk to all sides in Kashmir, Sonia urges Centre

By Javed M. Ansari

The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, presenting a letter guaranteeing a job to Saleema Begum, who lost a relative to militancy, in Baramulla, North Kashmir, on Sunday. Looking on are the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (extreme right), the State Congress chief, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and the Finance Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Beig. — Photo: Nissar Ahmad

BARAMULLA JUNE 1. The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, today called on the Centre to talk to all sides in Kashmir and to adopt a sympathetic attitude towards resolving all contentious issues. Secularism and democracy were the only answer, she said, adding that those opposing secularism, whether within the State or outside, were only spreading hatred.

Addressing a joint Congress-PDP rally here at the end of her three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, she made a strong and emotive appeal to the people.

"I share your pain, I know what it means to lose a husband or a mother," she told the crowd.

Earlier, Ms. Gandhi had arrived in a helicopter along with the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.

The Congress president said the time had come to put an end to the gun culture and revert to the tradition of peace and pluralism that the region was famous for.

"Humey aur poori duniya ko aap ki tehzeeb par naaz hai (the whole world is proud of your culture," she said. In particular, she referred to the Nadimarg massacre of innocent Pandits and the subsequent three-day bandh observed by the people in protest.

Tracing her links with the State and its people, Ms. Gandhi said, "this is the land of my ancestors". She also recalled her visits to the State with her husband Rajiv Gandhi. Admitting that some things may have gone wrong during the Congress rule, she said, "but it was never this bad, the suffering in the last 15 years has been indescribable".

It was a reflection of the special place that Jammu and Kashmir had in her heart that she had decided to hold the Congress Chief Ministers' conference in the State. Her mention of the measures taken by Congress Chief Ministers in various States to help Kashmiri students was met with cheers. Promising that State Government's initiative would have her party's full support, she said, "this coalition is being run on the basis of a Common Minimum Programme and it will complete its full term."

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Sayeed sought time to solve the problems of the State.

"We have with the support of the Congress started a policy of healing wounds, of trying to provide employment and of bringing back peace and prosperity. This cannot be achieved overnight. We need your support," he said.

Making another pitch for opening up travel between India and Pakistan, he said, "we are a Muslim-majority State and are free to practice our culture and religion. Let the people from the other side come and see the reality."

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

Other States

Stories in this Section

Talk to all sides in Kashmir, Sonia urges Centre

Uttaranchal Capital issue hots up again

Fresh hope for families of PoWs after 3 decades

Landmine detected near rally venue