Mufti asks militants to shun obduracy and gun

Anantnag, May 18 (UNI) Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today reiterated his appeal to the militants to ''give up gun and shun obduracy'' in the larger interest of the people of the state.

Addressing a gathering here, he hailed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resolve to work out a solution of the Kashmir issue by involving all the parties concerned and holding two round-table conferences on Kashmir.

''We request the militants to give up the gun and contribute towards peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue instead of showing obduracy that would do not any good to the people of the state,'' Mr Sayeed said.

He said the people of the state have now realised that their grievances could be redressed only through democratic means. The massive participation of the people in the recent by-elections vindicated their faith in democracy, he added.

Mr Sayeed, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief patron, called for a new vision, a new commitment and a new sense of purpose to put an end to the political problems of Jammu and Kashmir and open up the region for rapid economic integration and convergence.

''I hope we have the political will and the wisdom to seize the moment with the commitment to look ahead and put an end to all the problems plaguing our growth,'' he added.

Mr Sayeed said India and Pakistan need to look to regional economic integration as a means of engine of growth rather than just for promoting trade and commerce. And this arrangement was bound to benefit the people of both the countries, he added.

The former Chief Minister said this dream could be realised and given shape in a speedy and concrete manner if both the countries work out a peaceful and amicable resolution of the Kashmir issue.

''Various options doing rounds need to be considered with sincerity and on merits to resolve the Kashmir problem peacefully,'' he added.

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