PDP urges PM to consider troops reduction in JK

Kargil, Sep 25: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to consider measured and systematic reduction of troops from the internal security duty as announced by him in 2004.

She said this would go a long way in consolidating the people's trust in the political means.

Addressing a public meeting here, Ms Mufti said reduction of troops from the internal security duty could be supplemented with strengthening of the Jammu and Kashmir police by raising few more battalions involving personnel from all regions of the state. The move would help the state government to tackle the problem of unemployment besides boost the public confidence, she added.

Ms Mufti reiterated that the time was most appropriate for complete cessation of hostilities within the state.

The PDP Chief said the self-rule proposal, gathering support in all regions, has become a rallying point for amicable solution of the Kashmir issue and was being discussed widely within the country.

Ms Mufti welcomed Dr Singh's statement that the self-rule was being discussed as one of the solutions. The Prime Minister's remark indicated the seriousness and sincerity of purpose with which the leadership was approaching the Kashmir issue to find a solution to the satisfaction of all the parties concerned, she added.

The PDP Chief said self-rule was the lone formula that not only encompasses political and economic aspects of the issue, but takes care of the aspirations of all the regions and parts of the state.

She said any solution to the issue could never be viable if the aspirations of all the regions were not accommodated. ''I am sure the self-rule only takes care of these intra-regional concerns.'' She said the PDP-Congress coalition was based on certain principles and was not a marriage of convenience.

Ms Mufti hailed the principled stand of the Congress leadership, especially party chief Sonia Gandhi, for lending the support and cooperation to the PDP for the larger goal of the betterment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

She strongly advocated opening of the Kargil-Skardu road for movement of people on the pattern of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and the Poonch-Rawalakote routes.

The PDP President stressed the need for opening these roads for free movement of people and goods to boost the local economies.

During the past four years, she said various measures have been taken by the coalition government to empower the Kargil area both politically and economically. Besides giving Kargil a Hill Development Council, the Srinagar-Leh Road was given the status of a National Highway, the PDP chief said.

UNI

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