Chavan for more CBMs to restore peace

Jammu, Sep 26 (UNI) Describing trade across Line of Control (LoC) as a good gesture, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's office and Congress party affairs in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir, Prithviraj Chavan today said more Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) should be initiated to restore normalcy in the state.

''India took an initiative towards opening of LoC for trade and it is a healthy sign to forward the ongoing peace process and strengthen the relations between the two countries,'' Mr Chavan, who is also General Secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC) told UNI at the sidelines of a function here.

Mr Chavan is in the town to assess the ongoing election preparation of the party as Election Commission of India (ECI) has given the green signal for Assembly Election in Jammu and Kashmir scheduled to be held by end of this year.

''The decision of the cross-LoC trade has been taken to fulfill the aspirations of the people of the state, particularly of Kashmir region,'' the Congress leader said and asserted that it would boost the economy of trouble-ridden state.

However, Mr Chavan terming Amarnath land row as 'unfortunate' said, ''Congress has geared up for assembly polls and the party is for maintaining the integrity besides overall development of all the three regions.'' Meanwhile, commenting upon the demand of delimitation by the Saffron brigade, Mr Chavan asserted that the issue was already in 2002 election manifesto of Congress party but it could not be matured due to various hiccups.

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