Date:08/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090856451300.htm

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Pushing J&K into poll mode will prove counter-productive: PDP

Shujaat Bukhari

Government must first address the just concerns of people

SRINAGAR: A day before an all-party meeting called by the Election Commission of India to discuss the possibility of elections in the State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday said that pushing Jammu & Kashmir into elections could prove counter-productive in a situation, where the people are “forced into a deep feeling of alienation, disillusionment, hopelessness and aloofness.”

In a resolution adopted at a specially convened meeting of the party leaders here on Sunday, the PDP made it clear that before initiating an electoral process, the government must address the just concerns and aspirations of the people in a responsive and responsible manner. It must also put in place concrete confidence-building measures aimed at repairing their damaged psyche, salvaging their bruised dignity, rekindling hope in their hearts and motivating them to mould their as well as the State’s destiny through a consequential democratic process. The meeting was presided over by party president Mehbooba Mufti.

The resolution said “the government shall essentially have to revert back to the ‘healing touch’ policy pioneered by the PDP that had brought about changes of great significance and substance to the State and the region.

“It was because of the healing touch policy that the environment of hostility and confrontation in the State and the region was replaced by a movement for reconciliation and peace, a ceasefire along the borders was put in place to the great relief of the people living there and opening of cross-LoC routes was seen as a historic moment of political wisdom,” it said.

The resolution pointed out that before embarking on any electoral adventure, the government must reclaim public confidence through substantive measures addressing the internal and the external dimensions of the Kashmir issue by involving all shades of Kashmiri opinion .

“While on the internal front the government must, in a time bound manner, implement the recommendations of the Prime Minister’s Working Groups, including rehabilitation of all the victims of violence, revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and reduction of troops, on the bilateral front with Pakistan, the cross-LoC routes, including Srinagar-Muzaffarabad, Poonch-Rawalakote, Kargil-Skardu and Suchetgarh-Sialkote roads must be immediately opened for free movement of goods and people.”