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Journalism of Courage
Veering away from his usual stand that the Centre should talk to the separatist leadership, Jammu and Kashmir Chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today lay stress on involving people of Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir too in the dialogue process.
Mufti, in his address at the Independence Day function here, even lashed out at separatists and their sympathizers saying they had ‘‘double standards’’ on human rights abuses. He said that the Centre should include people of the three regions, besides the separatist groups, in the dialogue process.
Referring to the Indo-Pak peace process, Mufti said that the two countries had taken the path of amity because of the strong urge of the people for peace, besides the ground realities. ‘‘There is no alternative to dialogue for resolving the problems,’’ he said.
Mufti praised the Kashmir-specific confidence building measures like opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road. He also lauded former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, saying the process of reconciliation took root the day Vajpayee extended the hand of friendship to Pakistan in Srinagar.
‘‘At that time, the two armies were in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation,’’ he said. Mufti lashed out at separatists for being selective in their protests against rights abuses.
‘‘They raise a hue and cry against rights violation by any security personnel, but maintain silence when women, children and political workers are killed by militants,’’ he said, adding that the separatists did not even condemn attacks on schoolchildren.
Mufti, however, added that any rights violation by security forces would not be tolerated. ‘‘Whenever there is a violation, we order probes. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty,’’ he said. Talking on the economic front, Mufti was all praises for Prime minister Manmohan Singh for initiating a liberal economic reconstruction programme for the state. He said it would transform the state.
The CM presented the achievements of his government in the past three years. He said education, infrastructure development, power, and health areas witnessed rapid expansion and consolidation and 10,000 new schools were opened. Mufti’s address was followed by a colourful programme by schoolchildren.
A group of local boys and girls displayed martial arts skills and the J&K
Police’s daredevil motorcycle unit presented an impressive show.
