New Delhi, May 19: J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Saif-ud-Din Soz today said the large participation of people in the ongoing Panchayat polls reflected a “remarkable change in the thought process” of average Kashmiris and asked separatists to join the dialogue process in view of this.

 He said the participation by separatists in the dialogue process could “generate the atmosphere of a positive response from the quarters holding responsible positions in the system”, in an apparent reference to the government.

 “The substantially large participation of people (between 80 and 87 per cent) in the Panchayat elections, conducted in J&K on non-party basis and very peacefully, has manifested not only democratic aspirations of the people, but a remarkable change in the thought-process of an average Kashmiri,” Soz said while commenting on the polls.

 Observing that “the mood seems to be for conciliation and reconciliation”, he said, “It is high time that the leadership broadly characterized as separatists comes forward for participation in the dialogue process which is already going on.”     

 Soz said even if the separatists have to take a “fresh initiative”, they should do so in the larger interests of the State. “They should also think that sometimes there is a situation that suits the collective consciousness of the people and that should suit the leadership as well,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 19 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 19 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 20 May 2011 00:00:00 IST