Centre to fight terror, minimise HR violations: PM

New Delhi, Apr 24: Observing that the roundtable process onKashmir is resulting in ''tangible measures,'' Prime Minister ManmohanSingh today said the UPA government is committed to resolving the issueinternally and externally by carrying forward the dialogue with allthose concerned within the state and with Pakistan.

''We have reached a stage where tangible measures are now beingsuggested as a result of this dialogue,'' Dr Singh said in his openingremarks at the third roundtable on Kashmir convened by him.

The roundtable discussed the reports of four of the five WorkingGroups set up on various issues relating to the state. The reports thatcame up for discussion relate to confidence building merasures acrosssegments, strengthening relations across the LoC, economic developmentof the state and good governance.

The Prime Minister said the fifth working group, set up onCentre-State relations, had also commenced functioning and had so farheld three meetings.

All prominent separatist groups, including both the factions of thHurriyat Conferene, have refused to participate in the talks held at 7Race Course residence of the Prime Minister.

Dr Singh said there were two dimensions to the problems of Jammu andKashmir, one was an internal one and the other, an external one,involving Indo-Pakistan relations. ''It is our intention and sinceredesire to advance on both fronts towards resolving the problems througha process of dialogue,'' he said.

The Working Groups and this roundtable process were part of thegovernment's effort to find pragmatic, practical means of improving thequality of life of the people so that they could lead a life ofself-respect and dignity, he said.

''At the same time, I am conscious that there are difficulties.

There are acts of terrorism which derail our efforts towardsrestoring normalcy. There are concerns about human rights violationsand undue harassment of people at large.'' The government was committedto seeing that these were minimised, he assured the delegates, butrefused to concede the demand for withdrawal of troops.

While recognising the important role being played by securityforces in maintaining peace in the state and providing a sense ofsecurity to the common man, every possible action would be taken to seethat the deployment of security forces was directly related to thescale of the problems on the ground which they were required to tackle,the Prime Minister said.

Observing that terrorism had left deep scars on the minds of thepeople, Dr Singh said the government would make all efforts to apply asoothing balm on these scars and make a new beginning. On the externalfront, which involved Pakistan, he said India was engaged sincerelywith Islamabad to improve bilateral relations and resolve all pendingissues.

''Efforts have been made and will continue to be made to work fora reconciliation recognizing the interdependence of our destinies.

''However, these efforts will not be fruitful unless a peacefulenvironment is created through honouring of commitments made, in letterand spirit, to curb terrorist activities,'' he said.

The Prime Minister reminded the delegates of his statement a yearago in Amritsar that the two parts of Jammu and Kashmir can, with theactive encouragement of the governments of India and Pakistan, work outcooperative, consultative mechanisms to maximize the gains ofcooperation in solving problems of social and economic development ofthe region.

Acknowledging that he was impressed by the representativecharacter of all the people who took part in the roundtable, heexpressed the hope that those who had decided against joining thedialogue would too join hands and contribute to the resolution ofissues.

''The entire nation wants the state to do well. We all wish thatthe people of the state live peaceful, secure lives looking forwardhopefully to a future of prosperity and dignity,'' Dr Singh said.

The Prime Minister said the working group on strengthening relationsacross the LoC had suggested a series of measures to promotepeople-to-people contact across the LoC. These, in his view, wereextremely relevant to moving towards the goal of making borders andline irrelevant and just lines on a map. ''Of course, the measuressuggested need to be implemented after they are agreed to with ourneighbour Pakistan.'' The Working Group on the Economic Development ofthe State had given wide ranging proposals for the rapid economicdevelopment of the state and making it more financially stable.

''I reiterate our commitment to the sustained economic developmentof Jammu and Kashmir and to making it one of the front ranking statesof the country. Given the immense potential of the region, this iscertainly possible.

''I am sure that the Planning Commission and the Ministries of theGovernment of India will discuss these with the State Government tooperationalise as many of these as possible in a time bound manner.''The Union Home Ministry had invited to the roundtable representativesfrom 45 groups and political parties besides individuals.

Besides political leaders from the Congress, National Conference,PDP, Panthers Party, the CPI (M) and the BJP and intellectuals, theroundtable was attended by members of various organisationsrepresenting region-specific communities, including Kashmiri Panditsand individuals.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and several of his ministerial colleagues took part in the discussions.

Like the previous two occasions -- in February and May last year-- all prominent separatists -- both the factions of the HurriyatConference headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, theJammu Kashmir Liberation Front led by Yasin Malik, Democratic FreedomParty of Shabir Shah and others-- refused to attend.

However, the ex-hijacker and Democratic Liberation Party (DLP)chairman Hashim Qureshi, who had boycotted the second conclave, wouldparticipate in the third roundtable.

UNI

Related Stories

Mirwaiz Hurriyat rejects third round-table on JK
News in focus: Kashmir Burning
>