Jammu, Feb 1: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday said the youth of Jammu and Kashmir are strongly in favor of a political solution to the Kashmir problem and the state government is working in that direction.
 Referring to a study conducted by Delhi-based Institute for Research on India and International Studies, he said a majority of the state’s youth have rejected the gun culture.
 “This is true (that Kashmir youths have rejected gun culture, merger with Pakistan and Azadi and favor good governance and corruption-free state). As per the report youths (in Kashmir) did not support the gun,” he said.
 Omar was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function of State Education Ministry at Jammu University here.
 The study showed that a vast majority of Kashmiri youths were disillusioned with mainstream democratic politics in the state with 50 percent of them having never voted and only 5 percent of them joining political parties.
 “The youths want that there should a political solution to the problem of Jammu and Kashmir - we are also working in this direction,” he said.
 Omar said that the good thing in the report is that it has exposed many good things about role of media and how it influences the opinions in the valley on different subjects.

‘SURPRISED BY SALAH-UD-DIN’S BOYCOTT CALL’
 Asked to comment on United Jehad Council chief and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen supermo Syed Salah-ud-Din call to boycott municipal polls in the state, he said, “Although I am surprised but it is not a new thing. We will hold elections.  Those who want to take part in it can take part.”
 Omar said the statement surprised him as during the Panchayat elections, he (Salah-ud-Din) asked the masses to vote and now when elections are being held for the municipalities, boycott call has been given.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 1 Feb 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 1 Feb 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 2 Feb 2012 00:00:00 IST