J-K CM hopes all shades of opinion would join dialogue process

Terming dialogue as the only means to sort out issues and end the culture of violence, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today hoped that people from all shades of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir would join the dialogue process initiated in the state.
In her message on the eve of the 69th Republic Day, she said the appointment of Dineshwar Sharma by the Centre as the interlocutor for the dialogue was a major development to ensure durable peace in the state rather than a temporary measure to calm down tempers as happened in the past.
A dialogue, she said, was the only way by which the culture of violence in the state could be ended.

"If peace prevails, developmental and welfare measures can take off, tourists can come, investment can happen and also new political initiatives can materialise," Mehbooba said.
Expressing concern over the situation along the Indo-Pak border, the chief minister hoped Prime Minister Narendra Modi, using his stature and wisdom, would pace up his efforts so that the state becomes a bridge of peace between the two countries, ending the bitter phase of acrimony between them.
Holding that the fascination for violence is declining among the youth, Mehbooba said, "Parents, friends and even social media are playing their role in dissuading them from slipping into a path where death and destruction are the only end results."

She said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been the immediate witnesses and victims of violence.

Outlining the achievements of her government, the chief minister said soon after her taking over, she had promised a review of the cases registered against youths from 2008.
"As the things cooled, I started the process and ordered the withdrawal of cases registered from 2008 to 2014 against 4327 youths," she said, adding subsequently she ordered the withdrawal of cases registered from 2015 to 2017 against 4740 youths, taking the total number of such cases to more than 9700.
She hoped that this humanitarian gesture by the government would yield positive results and allow more cases to be withdrawn.

Mehbooba said continuing with her healing touch, she sanctioned cash relief and offered jobs to the pellet victims who lost their vision during the unrest of 2016.
To make administration more accountable and to take it to the doorstep of the people in far-flung areas, the chief minister said she initiated a series of public grievances camps in 14 districts of the state.
In the remaining districts, such camps would be held soon, Mehbooba said.
She said the government has also decided to implement the 7th Pay Commission recommendations for its employees from April this year.
Describing the prime minister's development package as a major intervention to change the developmental and infrastructural profile Jammu and Kashmir, she said under it, a whopping Rs 42,000 crore would be spent on development and upgradation of highways, construction of tunnels and improving the inter-regional connectivity.

"It is a challenge, (given the topography) but we are doing it wholeheartedly," she said, noting her government has approved two ring road projects, worth Rs 4,000 crore, to address the issue of traffic congestion in Srinagar and Jammu.
Preliminary work on these projects has already started, she added.