JK a victim of trust deficit: PDP

"Efforts have to be redoubled to remove apprehensions on both sides that have marred chances of reconciliation," PDP PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said.

It was unfortunate that over the past six decades of relationship, the state and rest of the country had lost confidence in each other, "a fact that has to be publicly recognised in order to find a remedy", he said.

There was need for opening a new chapter based on mutual trust and understanding, Sayeed told a public meeting at Lolab in Kupwara district, some 100-km from here.

"The roadmap provided by the self-rule document that is under implementation in certain aspects like cross-LoC trade and travel since 2005 is now universally acknowledged as the most feasible idea that can usher in a new era of resolution, peace and progress in South Asia," he said.

"A true and strong federalism is emerging in India but unless Jammu and Kashmir finds its place of dignity in the emerging scenario, the picture will remain incomplete," the PDP leader said.

"On the one hand, there are heartwarming developments like the US Secretary of State visiting (West) Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in pursuit of their global interests.

"On the other, there is the pathetic picture of Jammu and Kashmir with a constitution of its own where the discourse is still revolving round empowerment of panchayats, population control of dogs or the Chief Minister having to seek approval of officials for removing the Disturbed Area Act," Sayeed said.