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| Dialogue only viable medium to settle issues: Azad | | | Jammu, January 08
Expressing satisfaction over the working of five Working Groups announced by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to look into various issues pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad said that recommendations from all the groups are expected to be finalized within next two months and submitted to the Prime Minister.
He was having an informal chat with media after the Governor’s address to the joint session of state legislature here today.
Chief Minister hoped that the talks between External Affairs Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee and his Pakistani counterpart would carry forward the dialogue process between the two countries to settle all issues amicably. He said many proposals have been floated by the neighbouring country and dialogue is the only means to discuss all aspects and work out strategies.
Mr. Azad said that five years earlier the then Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee initiated the dialogue policy with Pakistan and the Congress then in opposition extended its full support to the then NDA government. “To work against ones own initiative is not befitting. We should think above all political considerations and work for peace and development. Bigger parties should have bigger hearts and minds and think big for the interests of the country”, he maintained.
Referring to the preponing of budget session, Chief Minister said that it would provide ample opportunity to legislators and government machinery to be available to monitor and implement development schemes during the crucial months of February, March and April which otherwise used to be consumed in legislature business leaving development scenario unattended at the ground level. He said J&K would be the first state to take this initiative.
Referring to his talks with opposition leaders Dr Farooq Abdullah and Mr. Omar Abdullah, Mr. Azad said that his deliberations with NC leaders were peace process centric in the backdrop of Mr. Mukherjee’s visit to Pakistan, catapulting hope for lasting peace in the state. He said he has not discussed any matter pertaining to their activities in legislature as the opposition is within their rights to deliberate upon issues vehemently in the two Houses. “Strong and active opposition is the soul of democracy and makes government to perform more and more”, he added.
He said, he recently had meetings with Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and Foreign Minister and discussed matters pertaining to the dialogue and peace. “We discuss these issues with our coalition partners in legislature meetings and other forums, however, to take opposition into confidence with regard to matters of national interest, we have to have interactions and meetings with them”, he maintained. He said, he found NC leaders very much positive with regard to creating lasting peace in the state.
Mr. Azad said that during his meeting with Foreign Minister he stressed the need for taking up the issue of opening more trans-border and trans-LoC routes along J&K to further strengthen Confidence Building Measures.
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