PDP welcomes PM's fresh initiatives on Kashmir

Srinagar, May 26 (UNI) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a ruling coalition partner in Jammu and Kashmir, today welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's fresh initiatives to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the vexed issue, but stressed that the problem need to be viewed beyond the Centre-State relationship.

The Prime Minister had given out a questionnaire to participants in the second round-table seeking suggestions on various issues, including confidence-building measures (CBMs) across sections of the society and the Line of Control (LoC), PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti told reporters here.

''We welcome the Prime Minister's initiative on Kashmir announced at the end of the round-table conference here yesterday,'' she said.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Ms Mufti said the institution that needs to be strengthened most is the state legislature.

''Unfortunately, it has been undermined in the past,'' she added.

The PDP President also said she has urged Dr Singh to announce a rehabilitation package for girls exploited in the sex racket though it was out of context.

She said the law will takes its own course as the Jammu and Kashmir High Court was monitoring the investigations conducted by CBI into the sex scandal case.

Ms Mufti also said that most of the employment and development schemes focus on the uplift of the country's rural areas which had resulted in poverty in urban areas as majority of the youth depend on government jobs for their livelihood.

The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and other schemes in urban areas should be made more women-oriented to avoid their exploitation on the pretext of providing employment, she added.

UNI