Srinagar, Nov 24: The ruling National Conference on Tuesday said New Delhi was facing international pressure to solve Kashmir and asked pro-freedom groups including both the factions of Hurriyat Conference to resume the dialogue process with Government of India to tests its seriousness.
 “Both the factions of Hurriyat should leave their ego behind and join dialogue process to test seriousness of New Delhi. It seems to be a golden opportunity as India is under tremendous pressure from international community to resolve Kashmir. The Government of India seems to be serious this time. This was evident from the recent statement of the Home Minister here last month when he said that New Delhi wants a unique solution to Kashmir. He had also evaded a query on whether Kashmir was an integral part of India,” said senior party leader and minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Muhammad Sagar, while addressing NC workers at party headquarters here in run up to the 104 birth anniversary of  the former Chief Minister late Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah.
 However Sagar, who is also minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, said National Conference would play a major role in resolving Kashmir. “Our party has a political base in all the three regions of the state. NC is for internal autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir but if there is a better solution acceptable to people, NC will support it,” Sagar said. 
 The minister talked about the role of late Abdullah in political struggle of JK. “It is unjustified to say that Sheikh sahib ditched people. (In fact) he was twice ditched by New Delhi on pretext of holding plebiscite and restoring pre-1953 position in the state,” Sagar said.
 He said government would come up with an employment policy on the birth anniversary of late Abdullah. “Unemployed educated youth who are graduates will be given non-refundable monetary assistance of Rs three lakh by government to start their own venture and those having qualification below graduation will be given Rs one lakh monetary assistance,” Sagar asserted.
 Without naming anybody, senior NC leader Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal who also spoke on the occasion said that those who accuse late Abdullah of selling out Kashmir to India should understand that it was only because of him that Jammu and Kashmir was enjoying special status under article 370.
 “We have our own constitution, own flag and own legislative assembly, which is making and amending laws. Where were their ancestors, when Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah was fighting against tyranny of Maharaja? Such elements were created by the agencies in 1990 to weaken NC,” he said.
 He said, “Leaders in New Delhi were hatching conspiracies against NC. The process to weaken us started decades ago when former union law minister Ram Jethmalani frequently visited Kashmir during 1990s. On his advice, Jagmohan was appointed the Governor, who left no stone unturned to kill NC leadership and common people,” Dr Kamal said.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 IST