NC toes PDP line on withdrawal of troops from J

Srinagar, Nov 30 (UNI) Toeing a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) line, arch rival National Conference (NC) has demanded withdrawal of troops from Jammu and Kashmir and handing over the internal security of the insurgency-hit state to the local police.

At a party convention here, NC president Omar Abdullah demanded withdrawal of troops from the internal area of Jammu and Kashmir.

''We have been asking New Delhi to hand over the internal security of Jammu and Kashmir to the local police and removal of troops from the main towns of the Valley,'' he said.

If the internal security of the strife-torn state was handed over to the local police, Mr Abdullah said, more job opportunities would be created for unemployed youth and conditions could become much more conducive.

He also launched a scathing attack on former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, accusing him of raising hollow slogans.

Before leaving for the UN, Mr Sayeed announced that he would raise the issue of self-rule in the UN General Assembly, he added.

''If he (Mr Sayeed) produces any CD or a tape about his speech in the UN in which he mentioned the self-rule being the final solution of the Kashmir issue, I would garland him on his return,'' the NC president said.

In fact, he said the former Chief Minister did not utter a single word about the self-rule proposal in the UN. ''He just fooled Kashmiris,'' the NC chief added.

Mr Abdullah, a former Union Minister, confessed that his party committed several mistakes in the past.

''That is why we lost the polls. We have realised our mistakes and repeatedly sought apology for those. I hope people will forgive and vote for us in the next elections, thus give us a chance to serve them,'' he added.

UNI AG VA KN1501