To wait for silence of last gun is day-dreaming: Mufti

Kokernag, Apr 26 (UNI) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today came down heavily on those opposing his party's demand of troop withdrawal from Jammu and Kashmir, saying it would be day-dreaming to wait for the last gun to fall silent.

''The initiative has to be taken now...to gradually replace the military engagement by political one and give the people's institutions their rightful place. Those vehemently opposing troop withdrawal, for obvious reasons, are doing no good either to the country or to the people of the state. If we wait for the last gun to fall silent, it would be only day-dreaming,'' he said.

Addressing a mammoth public meeting here, Mr Sayeed said while the Centre has initiated action on his party's demand of reduction of troops and vacation of orchards and civilian properties by the security forces, the process has to expand and gather momentum on the ground as such measures were now certainly unavoidable.

''The fundamental input for transforming the state's future scenario is that the people must get the relief and associate with the peace process,'' he added.

The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister cautioned against any complacency in handling the situation at the decisive phase of the state's history, saying the circumstances insist on spirited and futuristic initiatives for the ultimate settlement of the problem.

''Any move to hold back the process at this crucial juncture can have terrible consequences for the state and the region,'' he said.

He urged India and Pakistan to move ahead with determination and political courage to resolve the Kashmir issue once for all, as the cost of not doing so would be enormous for both the countries.

Referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement at the round-table conference in New Delhi on April 24 in which he related the troop reduction to the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Sayeed emphasised that the ground reality in the state today demanded such measures.

''I am sure the right-thinking people in the country have realised the inevitability and urgency of resolving the problems and challenges confronting the state, through political and democratic means,'' he added.

The former Union Home Minister said the most appropriate step in that direction would be entrusting greater responsibility to the political and civil society institutions of the state and fully empowering them to enhance their ownership in bringing about normalcy in their lives.

''The people of Jammu and Kashmir are the chief custodians of the state's interests and should be treated with dignity and honour to reverse the resurgent wave of alienation, slowly making fresh inroads into the public domain,'' he added.

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