Reiterating his continuous advocacy for peace and tranquility between India and Pakistan, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Wednesday said that wars have never solved any issue and these only bring destruction and miseries.“No one in Jammu and Kashmir or in the Country is in favour of war as the wars are no solution to any issue”, he said and added that friendship requires equal response from either sides. “Friendship is like the clap needing two hands to perform. If one side extends the hand of friendship the other side also needs to reciprocate”, he said and expressed serious concern over the violation of ceasefire and shelling at LOC and IB. He said the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan signed and implemented in 2003 has been highest reward for the people of Jammu and Kashmir particularly living on the LOC and International Border (IB).
Addressing a public gathering at Tangdar (Karnah), a remotest area in Kupwara District on LOC, this afternoon, the Chief Minister said that the shelling by Pakistan on the villages in Jammu and other areas has made him seriously concerned about the life of people living in frontier areas. “I would continue to stress on Union Government to take up this matter with the Pakistan and resolve the issue so that peace rules the roost on borders and on the Line of Actual Control (LOC)”, he said and maintained that this is in the highest interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir particularly residing in the frontier areas of Jammu, Kashmir and Kargil.
The Chief Minister expressed the hope that the situation will come to normality and the two neighbours talk to each other to settle all outstanding issues in an amicable and peaceful manner.On development programmes of the government, the Chief Minister said that peace gives fillip to development and the pidends of peace percolates down the line to poorer people. He said the achievements registered by his government during the last over four and a half years are before the public and they would judge the performance of the government on this count.“Achievements of my government are before you. It is not the time to present you the list of each and every decision, measure and step my government have taken to ameliorate the lot of people equitably and inclusively across the State in all the regions and sub-regions”, he said and elaborated that at the right point in time the chart of achievements would be provided to the people enumerating all details.The Chief Minister announced special recruitment drive by J&K Police for youth of Karnah, Keran, Machil and other remote areas so that they get ample representation and opportunity to serve in the Police Department. He said his government has implemented various new schemes for ensuring faster development in remote areas and provide opportunity of jobs to the locals in the upcoming projects.
The Chief Minister who also inspected the recently constructed Sub-District Hospital at a cost of over Rs. 6.73 crore in Tangdar and expressed satisfaction over its functioning. He announced centrally heating plant for the hospital to ensure befitting conditions for patients during the winter months. He said that he would direct the Health Department to immediately move for providing 300-capacity X-ray Machine in the hospital.Chairman Pahari Advisory Board, Kafeel-u-Rehman, Minister for Science and Technology, Feroz Ahmad Khan and local leaders also spoke on the occasion.
On reaching Tangdar, the Chief Minister was received by the enthusiastic crowd warmly. They raised slogans in his and in favour of his government.