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| Kashmir steers to near normalcy: Governor | | | SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 20-
Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha today said the level of violence in Jammu and Kashmir has reduced and the situation is improving fast in the State.
Compared to peak period of militancy, near normalcy now prevails in the State, he added.
Interacting with high ranking Army officers from the three services including officers from US, UK and Sri Lanka, currently undergoing a course at National Defence College, the Governor said that notwithstanding isolated incidents of violence, there has been a discernible change in the overall scenario in the State, with the Government focusing on development and welfare of the people.
With situation improving, a candid message has gone the world over that Kashmir is not on fire, the Governor said, adding that the old misconception of the overall scenario in the Valley is changing.
Replying to a volley of questions by the officers, the Governor observed that he was of the view that Line of Control should be transformed into Line of Peace and Prosperity and a European Union like set up, evolved to usher progress and development. He said the solution to problems in Kashmir should be a win win situation for all- India, Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. ‘This will not emerge overnight and is going to take time’, he said, adding that the formation of European Union too was a long drawn process.
The Governor said that India and Pakistan should together fight the common enemy of poverty, ignorance and disease. The people of the two countries, he said, are longing for peace and tranquility in the region, which is imperative for development and prosperity. He said both the counties have been showing flexibility in their approach and President Parvez Musharraf has given up the demand for implementation of UN Resolution on plebiscite. On plebiscite, he elaborated that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have time and again demonstrated their preference for India through elections and the Constituent Assembly has ratifying the Instruement of Accession. In the 1965 war, the people of Kashmir showed their preference for India over Pakistan. General Mohammed Musa, the then Pakistan Army Chief in his book ‘My Version’ has stated that their offensive failed because of lack of support from the people of Kashmir.
Referring to the ongoing proxy war, the Governor said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have always rejected the alien cult of violence, as it goes against their great Sufi traditions which stand for brotherhood, peace and amity. He, however, said that the situation changed with emergence of fundamentalism in 1970s in the wake of petro dollars that had its bearing on Kashmir too. He said the Sufi traditions, cherished by the older generation, got eroded but still alive among them. The younger generation got misled by malicious propaganda and became tools of terrorism perpetrated from across
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the border, he said, adding that their attitude is now changing and they are wanting to make a success of their lives by acquiring sills and doing well in their chosen profession.
The Governor elaborately dwelt on the tribal raid, India taking its case to UN in 1948, wars fought in Kashmir and democracy flourishing in the State.
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