Jammu, Jan 29: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Sunday sought discussion on the report submitted by the Kashmir interlocutors in the Parliament.
Dr Farooq said that he would take up the issue with the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, who is one of the members of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which has to discuss the report first.
“I am not a member of the CCS, but it has not discussed the report till now. I will take up the issue with the Home Minister, so that the contents of the document could be placed before the Parliament”, Dr Farooq told reporters at the sidelines of a function here.
 Preferring not to comment on the report released by a New Delhi based NGO, Institute of Research on India and International Studies (IRIIS) – claiming corruption is more important issue before the youth in JK rather than ‘Azadi’ – Dr Farooq said, “I have not read the report. Till I go through the contents, I don’t want to comment. You should pose this question before the state government,” he said.
 He said that recommendations of the interlocutors are much more important than any other document put in public domain as these incorporate views from every region of the state.
 “The report should be discussed in the Parliament so that masses could know the outcome of interactions between people who met the interlocutors”, he said.
 Calling upon newly elected Panchayat heads to play effective role in development of their respective areas, Dr Farooq said that Panchayats could play a vital role in expediting the development activities in the state.
 “Panchayats will be important centers, where people can voice their developmental concerns. They will also deal with the local issues confronting the masses”, he said.
 Dr Farooq said that earlier people had to approach MLAs with their grievances and day-to-day problems, but now it is the Panch and Sarpanch, who will be answerable to the masses.
 On the apprehensions shown by some MLAs that Panchayats would undermine their role in constituencies, Dr Farooq said the Speaker JK Legislative Assembly, Muhammad Akbar Lone has already constituted a committee to discuss the issue.
 Union Minister also advised the state to look for alternative sources of energy to end the power crisis in the state.
 “My Ministry will share 90 per cent burden of any project taken by the state, J&K has to share burden of just ten per cent, but still they don’t approach us”, he said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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