Early Times Report
NEW DELHI, June 6: Calling for a national consensus on resolution of Kashmir, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti, today urged the newly elected Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Sumitra Mahajan, to provide adequate space to the representatives from Jammu & Kashmir to connect with the parliament and rest of the country with their accumulated problems.
Speaking on the election of Mahajan as the Speaker of the Parliament, Mehbooba said though J&K is electorally a small state with just six members in the LS, it deserves greater accommodation in view of the problems this state has been facing ever since independence. "Though we are a small state, but it faces more problems than the rest of the country," said Mehbooba.
She expressed the hope that a new and positive approach towards the problems of J&K would mark the change in the complexion of the House. Mehbooba said Kashmir faces acute problems of development deficit and unemployment which need to be addressed with understanding and consideration
Referring to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi's, remarks that he would follow the Vajpayee line in dealing with J&K; Mehbooba said the strong mandate that he has received in the LS elections should hopefully help his government in adopting a bold approach to the problems of the state. "Vajpayee had said that Kashmir issue will be resolved within the ambit of humanity (Insanyit Kay Dairey Mai Kashmir Maslay Ka Hal Nikalaey Geay).
Also to address the external dimension of Kashmir problem Vajpaee had adopted policy of reconciliation saying (Hum Dost Badel Saktay Hain Humsaya Nahi)," she added.
She said Kashmir has always presented a moral and political challenge to all the prime ministers and it is hoped that the initiatives taken by Prime Minister Vajpayee are carried forward both in respect of mending the relations with Pakistan and also resolving Kashmir. |
