Tangdhar, Aug 29: The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Sunday asserted that the union government was “actively working” to find a political solution to Jammu and Kashmir centric issues. He expressed hope that the problems facing the state would be settled soon, amicably and peacefully.
 Addressing a public gathering at Tangdhar, Omar welcomed the Home Minister P Chidambaram’s statement about Jammu and Kashmir in the Parliament recently.
 Omar, according to an official spokesman, said from the day he took over as the Chief Minister, he has been strongly advocating addressing the political issues in Jammu and Kashmir and restoring both the internal and external dialogue channels. “The state government is working as an active facilitator in this regard and would not come in the way of any political shade of opinion in its effort to put forth its viewpoint peacefully in a dialogue process,” Omar said. “In fact my government has proved instrumental in granting passports to the separatist leaders, giving them an opportunity to discuss their viewpoints across the border or anywhere else.”
 Omar said his government would always facilitate any political effort through dialogue in a peaceful atmosphere to address Kashmir issue. He expressed hope that the union government would take positive steps in addressing the political issues of Jammu and Kashmir through a sustained dialogue process, avoiding the re-occurrence of mistakes done in the past. “Violence has never solved any problem and the 20 years of gun culture witnessed by the state vindicates that gun and violence only yields destruction and bloodshed,” he said, adding peaceful and democratic approach to resolve problems was the only way out to make positive headway.
  “Kashmir issue has political genesis and it has originated with the independence of India and the birth of Pakistan. The over 60-years-old problem has become a complex one and requires sustained political efforts by all the stakeholders through a dialogue process to resolve it as per the aspirations of the people of the state,” Omar said, asserting that Indo-Pak talks in this regard were imperative.
 Omar said that he had sought the people’s mandate to address development issues and work for economic welfare of Jammu and Kashmir besides creating employment opportunities for the unemployed youth. “During electioneering we sought the votes for development and my government is keen to fulfill the promises,” he said “We are working in this direction and development of health, education, power, roads and water sectors is our prime concern.”
 Omar said he had finalized special recruitment programme to engage 50,000 youth in various government departments within next couple of months.
 Taking a dig on what he said “perpetrators of stone pelting and unabated shutdowns”, Omar said that while they are seeking better future and best education for their children, they are destroying the career and education of the children of general public. “By marring the education of students and jeopardizing the future of youth, what they are achieving for the state?” he asked.
 Omar appealed to the people to help the government run the educational institutions so that students receive proper education and are able to sit in the examinations. “The shopkeepers or traders can make the good of their losses by opening the shops and doing the business in evening and morning hours, but how shall the students make over the losses they are facing in their education?” he asked.
 On development of Tangdhar, Omar said that his government would take up the issue of constructing a tunnel on Sadhna Pass with the Central Government to link up the area with rest of the Valley throughout the year.
 “I will call a meeting of the Council of Ministers at Tangdhar before Darbar Move so that entire government comes at the doorsteps of the people of this backward and far flung area and address the problems confronting them,” he said.
 He said to assess the losses Tangdhar had suffered due to the rains and flood, a Central team is shortly visiting this area so that compensation for the losses is paid to the affected people. “I have also directed the concerned District Development Commissioner to make assessment of the damages to the crops and property in the area,” he said.
 Omar said that he has earmarked Rs. 2 crores for the Degree College at Tangdhar and revenue authorities have been directed to finalize the acquirement of land for the college so that construction begins. The public meeting was also addressed by the Minister of State for Housing and Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani and MLA of the area Kafil-ur-Rehman.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST