No peace in sub-continent without Kashmir solution: NC

Srinagar, Apr 1 (UNI) Demanding involvement of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in resolving the Kashmir issue, the main opposition National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir said there could be no peace in the sub-continent without resolving this vexed issue.

Peace in the sub-continent was not possible without finding a long lasting solution to the Kashmir problem, the leader of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather said in a statement here.

However, he said any step taken towards resolving the Kashmir imbroglio was meaningless if the wishes and sentiments of general masses of the state were not taken into consideration.

He said some people were deliberately trying to create communal divide among the people of the state.

Reiterating his party's demand of autonomy, the Mr Rather said grant of internal self-dependence to the state was mandatory as per the document of accession and government of India is under obligation to empower the state government.

He said the limited powers with the state government were one of the main reasons of political insatiability in the state and New Delhi has to consider the demand of autonomy which is imperative for the economic development, prosperity and unity of the state.

Referring to the coalition government, he termed the five-and-a- half-year-rule of PDP and Congress alliance as a period where anti-people and anti-state policies flourished under the patronage of central government.

Mr Rather said the promises made by the coalition partners during the 2002 elections were proved hallow and none were fulfilled.

He said the achievements claimed by the alliance partners remained confined to the files and offices while the ground reality is different.

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