‘We never sought an extension… we were ready for change of govt’

• Do you think that the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Government managed to bridge the gap between Kashmir, India and Pakistan?
Manjeet, Chandigarh

When the present coalition government headed by Mufti Sahib took over the reins of power, there was a hostile situation between India and Pakistan. Also, there was a huge gap between Kashmir and the rest of the country. Our government is credited with creating conducive relations on the ground. Once there was a change on the ground situation, it was former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpsyee who initiated the peace process and announced it in Kashmir. Pakistan responded positively and now Dr Manmohan Singh is taking the process ahead.

• Despite your government’s ‘‘healing touch’’ policy, there has been no let-up in terrorist attacks. In this situation, don’t you think such a move will demoralise the security forces, who are responsible for ushering whatever peace is there in the Valley at the cost of many lives?
Yazad Umrigar, Anand

The ‘‘healing touch’’ policy has succeeded and there is a lot of improvement in the situation in the State. This year, a record number of tourists have visited Kashmir. People can now roam around in the Valley till late evenings. This all shows that the situation is getting better. In no way are the polices of the coalition government demoralising the security force. Instead, I believe it is helping them a lot.

• There were reports that some Congress ministers tried to upstage the Mufti Government by personally distributing relief material. Doesn’t that speak volumes of the kind of alliance government in place?
Ravi Prasad, Delhi

Since the past few months, there was uncertainty as there was confusion in the administration as well as in political circles due to the power sharing agreement reached between the People’s Democratic Party and Congress. It was because of this confusion that few people tried to do something on their own. Otherwise, the coalition government tackled every crisis in a professional way.

• Instead of asking the Congress minister to exercise restraint and not to interfere in relief operations, your government sidelined an upright officer. Please comment.
Ashraf Malik, Jammu

A lot of confusion in administration circles and political uncertainty gave some persons a chance to do such things.

• The human rights violations in Kashmir continue unabated. Don’t you think that the ‘‘healing touch’’ policy of your party hasn’t worked?
Irfan Rashid, Kashmir University

I firmly believe that the ‘‘healing touch’’ policy has really worked. There is a sharp decline in the violence, and peace has prevailed in the Valley. Things have changed on the ground with the active participation of the common people in the peace process. Now the security forces are more accountable. If they commit any crime and are found guilty, they are being punished. In the past three years, our government has done our best to reduce the human rights violations in the State.

• Will you travel to Muzaffarabad to distribute relief?
Zahoor Ganie, Srinagar

It was a natural catastrophe that left Muzaffarabad devastated. It will take years to rebuild the place and decades to heal the wounds the quake has left on its inhabitants. But, we have to think beyond distributing relief. The important thing right now is that Muzaffarabad has to be rebuilt and I think we have do something on a massive level so as to really help them.