Confidence building important in Kashmir: Minister

Mangalore, Aug 17 (UNI) With the social divide threatening the people of Kashmir over the Amarnath issue, there is an urgent need to take up confidence building measures, Union Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes today said.

Relying to queries from reporters on the sidelines of a function here, he said the people of Kashmir and the huge number of devotees of Amarnath seemed to have been divided on the issue and this was reason Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairman Sonia Gandhi have stressed the need of unifying the people.

"In this regard, they have felt an urgent need of taking people into confidence first with the united efforts of all political parties. However this will take time. Unless we take people into confidence, no success can be achieved to solve this nagging problem," he said.

On appointment of KPCC President Mr Fernandes said several leaders who had the mettle to lead the party in the state were in the fray and the appointment would be made soon.

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