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| Demand to reduce troops not a poll plank: Zargar | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | 31
A senior PDP leader and agriculture minister, Abdul Aziz Zargar today said his party's demand to reduce the number of troops deployed in the Kashmir Valley was not a poll plank.
"Nobody should think we are raking this up because of elections in the state next year. What we are saying is that troops should be pulled back from areas in the valley where situation has considerably improved," Zargar told reporters in Chandigarh today.
The minister said such a reduction was needed for creating a "new atmosphere" in the valley.
Earlier this month, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti had threatened to review ties with the Congress if her party's demand for withdrawal of troops from parts of the state was not met.
"At a time when situation is improving in Kashmir, we must take any such step which will help bring peace permanently and end alienation of the people," Zargar said.
The veteran politician said that certain "bold decisions" need to be taken at times for the larger interest of the people.
Zargar said that after being witness to so much bloodshed during 18 years of militancy, people were yearning for peace.
"Our tourism has been hit hard, industry has suffered badly and young and old alike have gone through a lot of trauma. Now everyone wants peace", he said.
"We always pray that peace process between India and Pakistan should flourish and people-to-people contact should increase. Common people on both sides want peace," the PDP leader added. |
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