Azad says not easy to rule J

Srinagar, Nov 2 (UNI) ''Yeh ishq nahin asaan...bas itna samajh lijiye...ek aag ka dariya hai...aur doobh ke jaana hai,'' is how Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad summed up his one year in office today.

Addressing a function here to mark the completion of his one year in office, Mr Azad said after completing his Masters in Science from the Kashmir University about 32 years ago, he joined the politics.

''There have been many ups and downs in the Indian politics. But, by the grace of God in all these 32 years, I have not been out of office even for a second. I have been either in the government or in the party as a functionary. It happens very few times in the politics,'' he added.

Mr Azad said he was happy to have closely worked with all top political leaders of the country during his career. ''Be it former Prime Ministers late Indira Gandhi, late Rajiv Gandhi and late Narasimha Rao, former Congress president Sitaram Kesri and now UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,'' he added.

The Chief Minister said it was the priority of his coalition government, of which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was an important partner, to restore peace and tranquility in the state.

However, he said it was difficult and time-consuming process.

Mr Azad also said that this was not the first year, but fourth year in continuity of the coalition government and as such it was imperative to highlight the achievements of the entire period and not just one year.

On the occasion, Mr Azad highlighted the achievements of the coalition government during the past four years, particularly during his one year in office.

The Chief Minister mentioned of a historic decision taken by the Centre and the state government to hold two round-table conferences to usher stability and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Five working groups were constituted involving diverse sections of society and political parties of all the three regions to make recommendations for confidence building measures across segments of society in the state, strengthening relations across the Line of Control (LoC), economic development, ensuring good governance and also strengthening relations between state and Centre, he added.

Mr Azad said opening of the Poonch-Rawalakot road for passenger traffic to provide communication link for the divided families on either side of the LoC after 59 years of separation and relief points along the LoC to further minimise the distance between the divided families were some of the major decisions.

The other achievements include steps for starting trans-LoC trade on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, introducing a new work culture, anti- defection law enacted to show respect to the peoples' mandate and lend stability to the government, legislation to restrict the size of the Council of Ministers to 24 to reduce the burden on the state exchequer, transparency, accountability and good governance to be key drivers of new work culture At the end, he appealed to all to contribute in every possible way to help build a prosperous and peaceful Jammu and Kashmir.

UNI AG AK BST1717