Time for bridging differences in J&K has come, says Mufti Mohammad Sayeed

Srinagar, Oct 20: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said there was a "perceptible" improvement in the overall situation in the state and the time for bridging the differences between communities has come.

"The Truth and Reconciliation Mission is an idea whose time has come. We must experiment with the idea to ensure emotional linkages and confidence amongst one another, especially between families, communities and regions within J-K," he said.

"JK lagged behind the rest of the county in the field of

(in last two decades). With a perceptible improvement in the overall situation, development is increasingly being seen as a vital entry point for consolidating peace dividends.

We need to capitalise this opportunity," Sayeed said. Sayeed, who is also the Minister for General Administration department, was speaking while interacting with Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS) probationers belonging to 2013 and 2015 batches.

He urged the officers to wipe out the scars of violence from the state's beautiful landscape.

Describing officers as critical instrumentalities for bringing about perceptible change in the quality of administration, Sayeed asked the new recruits to think out-of-box to address the grievances of the people.

Sayeed asked them to be in a state of constant preparedness to deliver good and efficacious governance, and said they are the interface between the elected representatives and the general public.

"The requirements of our three geographical regions are distinct. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the needs of the people living in these areas," he said.

PTI