Singh says no pre-condition for talks with Pakistan, but terror must end

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meeting CRPF and BSF soldiers at the Sainik Sammelan in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir on October 29, 2009.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said he was not satisfied with the steps taken by Pakistan against the perpetrarors of the November 26, 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai and hoped that all of them would be brought to justice soon.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar at the end of a two-day visit to the Kashmir valley, Dr Singh said that his statement yesterday that India was ready for discussions on all issues but Pakistan must first act against terror groups targeting India was not meant to be a pre-condition for any talks.

"It is not a pre-condition. But there is a practical way of looking at it. Negotiations cannot make headway unless Pakistan brings these terror groups under effective control," he explained.

The Prime Minister said India is a democracy and it would be difficult for the Government to create the right kind of atmosphere within the country for talks with Pakistan if terrorists continue to attack and kill and injure people.

In response to a question, Dr Singh said Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Mailk's allegation that India was abetting violence in Balochistan and financing the Taliban was far-fetched. "Nothing could be farther from the truth," he remarked, pointing out that, on the contrary, it was India which was a victim of terrorism aided and abetted from Pakistani soil.

"I have said earlier that India had no role in Balochistan and those who level these charges, the senior minister in Pakistan, knows jolly well that there is no truth in it," he said.

Asked about Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq's statement justifying the use of guns in a separatist movement, Dr Singh said, "One should not read too much into a statement made in anger."

He hoped that all those who had the good and well-being of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their hearts would respond favourably to his appeal to all sections of people in the state to come forward for dialogue.

To a question about the recent comments by the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) on the Kashmir issue, Dr Singh said, "We regret the OIC has got into this business and we have lodged a protest with OIC on this count."

"We want a peaceful resolution to all problems facing J&K, both in their internal dimensions and also external dimensions," he said.

But he insisted that India was not acting under pressure from any other country and would not succumb to any such pressure in the future.

He said it was in the interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the people of Pakistan and India that the relations between the two neighbouring countries become "what they ought to be between two neighbours."

Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Prime Minister hoped that his his appeal for dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir would be reciprocated in the spirit in which it was made.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meeting the Federation of Chamber of Industries Kashmir delegation, in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir on October 29, 2009.

"We have to carry all stakeholders with us to achieve a permanent and peaceful reconciliation in Jammu and Kashmir so that we can concentrate on an ambitious development agenda that will lead to a full economic revival and reconstruction and create lot more jobs for the young people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

Dr Singh had made the appeal at a public rally in Anantnag yesterday before he inaugurated the Anantnag-Quazigund railway link and flagged off the first train on the section.

He noted that Kashmir was blessed with rich endowments of resources, natural beauty and a young population that yearned for a better and more secure future. Whether it is in the area of infrastructure, employment, or its traditional economy the State must not only keep pace with the rest of the country but should be ahead of it, he said, pointing out that, over the past few years, the Government of India had committed unprecedented resources for the development of the state.

He said the Anantnag-Quazigund rail link was a long-standing aspiration of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and he was confident that it would open new horizons in the development of the state.

He recalled that, earlier this month, on his directive, the Union Cabinet Secretary accompanied by 13 Secretaries to the Government of India had visited the State. The first priority is to tone up the administrative machinery so that development projects could be effectively implemented on the ground and the fruits of development reached the common man, he said.

Stressing that the power sector is critical for the development of the state, the Prime Minister said Union Power Ministry would set up a special monitoring group for the sector in Jammu and Kashmir, involving the Union Ministry of Finance, the Planning Commission and the State Government.

He said he had assured the State government that the Centre would allocate up to 500 MW of power in the winter months to Jammu and Kashmir, depending on the load pattern and its emergent requirements. The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy has prepared a Renewable Energy Plan for Ladakh region to minimize the use of kerosene, diesel and firewood, he said.

Pointing out the enormous possibilities of making the State one of the world’s top tourist destinations, Dr Singh said the Government had decided to commit additional funds of more than Rs. 350 crores for the rehabilitation of the Dal and Nigeen Lakes.

He said 200 youth would be trained and deployed as tourist escorts for the Vaishno Devi and Amarnath yatras. He said that under the National Mission on Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-System the Government would make all efforts to protect the Himalayan glaciers.

Urging the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to lend their hand in the development of the State, the Prime Minister said the Ministry of Youth Affairs would enroll and deploy around 8,000 young persons as volunteers on an honorarium basis. They can engage productively in public service, such as in the conservation of Dal Lake, he said.

He also said that the Ministry of Tourism would train up to 300 young persons under the scheme "Hunar Se Rozgar Tak". The Ministry of Labour will arrange to host up to 8000 youth from the State each year in various ITIs to take advantage of the modular skill development programmes in sectors with high employment potential.

Dr Singh said the Government would continue to give priority to developing the physical infrastructure of the State. He said the Centre would provide additional funds to ensure the timely completion of the Mughal road at a revised cost of about Rs.640 crores. It had earmarked Rs.125 crore to upgrade urban infrastructure in important towns in the Valley like Baramulla, Anantnag, Kupwara, Ganderbal and Sopore during the current year, he said.

"Industrial revival is critical for the revival of the economy and to increase employment opportunities for our youth. Dastakari, Handicrafts and Textiles are at the core of J&K’s economy. The Government of India will favourably consider the request of the State Government to provide financial assistance for the replacement of 40,000 carpet looms in the State over a period of five years," he said.

The Prime Minister said he had had very good discussions with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his cabinet colleagues yesterday, when they took stock of the development efforts in various sectors and discussed ways and means of expediting the implementation of various central projects.

He said he had held wide-ranging discussions with all major political parties in the State and various sections of civil society.

The Prime Minister said he had also had a very good interaction with the officers and the men of the paramilitary forces and the State Police.

According to him, the responsibility for maintaining law and order in the State would increasingly devolve on the J&K police.

"I commend the brave and heroic efforts of the security forces under very adverse circumstances. We have raised the standards of accountability and transparency in their working in order to enhance public trust and confidence," he said.

"I return today to Delhi fully satisfied with my visit. I believe that a new chapter is opening in the peace process in the State and we are turning a corner. We will extend full support to the efforts of the State Government to fulfill the high expectations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir," he added.

NNN