Date:05/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/05/stories/2006060501962200.htm

National

Kashmir to represent India at Davos meet

Staff Reporter

Jammu: The state of Jammu and Kashmir will represent India in the International Conference of Youth Hostels. The conference, in which 80 countries are slated to participate, will be held in Davos in July.

Gandhian S. P. Verma, who hails from a village in Udhampur district of J&K, is India's nominee for the 46th International Conference of Youth Hostels meet.

Mr. Verma, who heads the Gandhian organisation Akhil Bharatiya Rachnamak Samaj in Kashmir, is known for his pioneering work in spreading the Gandhian ideals of non-violence and tolerance in militancy-infested parts of the State.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad congratulated Mr. Verma and hoped that he would share his experiences of peace building in the State with youth delegates from other countries. Chairman of the Public Service Commission M. S. Pandit said: "It is a matter of privilege for the people of J&K to represent the entire country."