The Hindu : Peace process will be time-consuming: Mufti

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 25, 2003

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Peace process will be time-consuming: Mufti

By Luv Puri

Jammu Aug. 24. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, has urged the people of the State to be patient as the present peace process between India and Pakistan will be time-consuming.

Addressing a public meeting in Anantnag on Saturday, he said the coalition Government was committed to change the destiny of the people by restoring peace. His Government had initiated measures, which were ``bound to yield results''.

Referring to the improving ties between India and Pakistan, Mr. Sayeed said the people of the State had suffered a lot due to the confrontation between the two neighbours. They had a stake in the thaw. He lamented that when the people in both countries were visiting each other, why can't the people of Jammu and Kashmir visit their relatives across the border. "Why cannot the Centre and Pakistan agree to open a Wagah-type border post at Uri and Suchetgarh to facilitate visits of divided families of the State?" he asked.

Describing "vested interests" within and outside the State as one of the major hurdles to the peace process, Mr. Sayeed said militants had no moral ground to hold the gun when things were looking up. ``It is a tragedy that the hands which should have held books or served the people are carrying guns''.

He said the Prime Minister would be launching an employment package under which one lakh jobs would be created in the State in two years. Even the State Government had generated employment in the engineering, poultry and education sectors. A contract appointment policy had been evolved to engage youth on a contract basis against some critical vacancies. The social security scheme for marginal workers was being launched while English had been introduced as a compulsory subject in the primary classes. For the first time, pre-primary classes had been started in Government-run schools.

Meanwhile, a Luxembourg envoy today called on the Chief Minister and discussed the situation prevailing in the State. Mr. Sayeed briefed him on the dialogue process.

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