Don’t make J-K a partisan poll issue, says CM

‘‘Let nobody make it a partisan electoral issue. All parties across the country, NDA, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister…should ensure that it is not made so. People who voted despite the fear of guns, voted for peace and settlement,’’ he said.

‘‘I want to assure you that Mufti Sayeed will not compromise on your dignity and attempts to seek honourable peace. We stand by our resolve to do it. The whole world is looking at us, we have their backing. We have asked the PM and the NDA to initiate a dialogue with the elected representatives of the state as well as with people who question the state’s accession to India,’’ the Chief Minister said.

Sayeed said the situation could be salvaged only if the entire country supported his efforts. ‘‘I want a consensus at the national level on this issue. Everybody — BJP, Congress, CPI(M) and even Mulayam Singh Yadav — has to support it. We hope to build an opinion across the country on how to make peace in Kashmir. Let nobody try to frustrate our sincere efforts,’’ he said.

Admitting that he was wearing a crown of thorns, Sayeed noted he was determined to make life better for the common man even as he pleaded with the Central Government to open its coffers.

‘‘If you want to put off the fire here, to heal the wounds and win hearts and minds of people, you will have to push open the gates of the exchequer. Since the past 12 years, no vacancy has been filled in the Central Government departments in the state; we have thousands of unemployed youth who could be absorbed,’’ Sayeed pleaded. Criticising the Indus Water Treaty for discriminating against Kashmiris, Sayeed sought compensation from the Centre.

‘‘We can generate 15,000 MW of electricity but we have no resources to harness it. We should be duly compensated for this inquitous treaty that discriminates against us. I want my people to stand on their feet as self-reliance should be our motto. It can be done only if we can trade with foreign countries like Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna,’’ he added. Later, speaking to reporters, Sayeed said the process of release of prisoners has been institutionalised by setting up a screening committee. He however dodged questions on the release of senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

‘‘The Hurriyat has its own value and we want as many shades of opinion involved in a dialogue process (as possible),’’ he said. ‘‘We are very clear that the dialogue should be unconditional and Madam Sonia Gandhi too favours it,’’ he added.