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| CM hopes new Pak government will cooperate in checking infiltration | | British High Commissioner calls on Azad | | Early Times Reporter
Srinagar | May 12
The British High Commissioner in India, Sir Richard Stagg, currently on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir, called on the Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad at the latter's residence here this morning.
The High Commissioner, on his maiden visit to the State, was accompanied by the First Secretary in the High Commission, Victoria Whitford.
Azad and Sir Stagg had a breakfast meeting during which they discussed overall situation and development scenario in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister informed the High Commissioner that the situation in the State was almost normal with political activity and development works going on in full swing across Jammu and Kashmir. He said the infiltration of militants from across the border, especially during the past two months, was the only concern and hoped that the new government in Pakistan would cooperate with India in checking this and taking forward the process of dialogue and peace which, he said, had been slowed down due to internal situation in Pakistan.
The Chief Minister said that the past two years in the State had been best in terms of lowest number of killings and incidents of violence. He said human rights violations had been brought down to negligible number while no custodial disappearance was reported during the last year and the current year till date.
Azad said political activities had picked up across Jammu and Kashmir and although elections were not announced yet and summer had just set in, as many as 1670 public meetings had been held by various political parties in the past few months throughout the State. He said all political parties were active and keen to fight elections with the people wanting to participate in the electoral process in a major way. He said seeing the mood of the people, he expected a massive voter turnout in the ensuing assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. He said people's participation in the election was more important than which party came to power.
Reiterating his assurance of free and fair elections to the state legislative assembly, the Chief Minister that his commitment to free and fair elections was amply demonstrated during the four bye-elections held in the State after he became the Chief Minister. He said not a single complaint of electoral malpractice had been made during these bye-elections. He said, he stood by this commitment and asked those parties and groups who were shying away from elections on the pretext of these might not be free and fair to come forward and participate in the electoral process.
The Chief Minister said his government, for the first time, in 60 years made development its main plank and was focused on development and economic issues. This, he said, was in contrast to the earlier decades when elections were fought on emotive or non-issues.
About starting the cross LoC trade, the Chief Minister said that India was ready and infrastructure in terms of custom building had been put in place one and a half years ago and the items for the cross LoC trade identified. He said the things had been slowed down in the wake of the internal situation in Pakistan following the events unfolding in February, 2007. He hoped that with a new government in place in Pakistan things would move forward. He said the Foreign Minister, Pranab Mukherjee's upcoming visit to Islamabad later this month would give further push to the improvement in bilateral relations, which he, quoting Pakistan Defence Minister, said were the best during the past four years.
The British High Commissioner evinced keen interest in the political and development activities in Jammu and Kashmir and described his maiden visit to the valley as "very good", adding that he was warmly received here. He said, he had come here to learn about the State and how things were progressing in Jammu and Kashmir. He said he would like to visit the valley again. |
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