Confidence building measures important in Kashmir: Fernandes

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

Replying to queries from mediapersons 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 the reason Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had stressed the need for unifying the people.

''In this regard, they have felt that an urgent need of taking the 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.

UNI MA RS PD HT1610