Thaindian News

Srinagar, July 5 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday asked the central government to start a dialogue with “different shades of opinion” in the state for which he is ready to act as a facilitator.
Speaking at a function in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town, Abdullah said: “The time has come to go to the root of the problem in Kashmir and address it with all sincerity.”

“The union government has already started a dialogue between India and Pakistan at different levels, a political dialogue between the centre and different shades of opinion within the state must also start in right earnest. And my government is ready to act as a facilitator for such a dialogue”.

Abdullah said his government is not a selected government but a democratically elected government in the state.

“We owe it to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to live up to their expectations and fulfill their aspirations.”

Referring to the Uri-Muzafarabad road, he said the initiative of opening the road is incomplete as long as it is only for divided families.

“The union government must open the Uri-Muzafarabad road for all the people of the state living across the Line of Control irrespective of whether they have relatives on either side.”

Abdullah wished for a day when Muzafarabad (in Pakistan-administered Kashmir) and Srinagar will be linked by a railway line.

“The lines between the two countries cannot be redrawn but they can be made irrelevant and we must all work towards that,” the chief minister said.

Abdullah said his government will work with the union government to strengthen the cross Line of Control trade and change it from a barter system to proper trade where the financial transactions happen through the banking system.

“There are certain elements in the society who are not happy and always try to derail the process of development during the limited working season available in the valley, but the state government is determined to fight these forces,” he added.