'Int'l interference made politics in JK complex'

Srinagar, Nov 2: The continuous international interference and attention since 1947 has made the politics and administration in Jammu and Kashmir much more complex, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said here today.

Addressing a function here to mark the completion of his one year in office, Mr Azad said politics in Jammu and Kashmir was very different from that in other states.

''It is not regional politics or a matter of local administration in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the only state in our country where besides all these matters there is to a large extent the interference of international politics. Political players of the entire world interfere in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir whether behind the curtain or in front...some directly and others indirectly continuously since 1947,'' he added.

Due to this international interference, the Chief Minister said politics and administration in Jammu and Kashmir had become much more complex.

Mr Azad said that during the past 16 years of turmoil and militancy, a Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir besides taking care of the internal administration has to coordinate with the Defence and the Home Ministries.

''It is equally important to coordinate with the security forces to combat militancy. Their good work often gets unnoticed, but most of the time, their mistakes are highlighted and the government has to shoulder these. The state has become an international political field which as a result, has badly affected politics, economy, social and other development works.'' Mr Azad said he had not committed any mistake by opening all fronts at the same time, be it political, economy and development.

''I have my own thinking that the issue is not that easy. Several top political leaders, including Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, tried hard to resolve the vexed issue. Dr Farooq Abdullah and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed also made serious efforts in that direction. I cannot claim that to achieve in no time what these leaders could not for years together,'' he added.

The Chief Minister appealed to mainstream and separatist groups, general public, intellectuals and the ''strong and independent'' media to help in finding an amicable solution to the Kashmir issue.

UNI

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