The Hindu : Mufti wants security forces to be `people-friendly'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 12, 2003

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Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

Mufti wants security forces to be `people-friendly'

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR Jan. 11. P olice and the security forces have a crucial role to play in the restoration of peace in the State, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, told a public meeting in Pulwama today.

The Mufti wanted the Centre to ask the security forces to be humane while dealing with the public. ``During our meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister at the Unified Headquarters I told the top brass of security forces that they should become more people-friendly in order to achieve better results in winning the hearts of the people,'' he said.

He said that no problem could be solved by blood-letting. ``We have to create an atmosphere in which our dream of restoring peace could be fulfilled.'' He distributed 30 appointment letters to the kin of those killed in militancy-related violence.

On Friday, the Mufti spoke in the same tune while addressing at the passing out parade of 521 trainee constables, including 85 women, at the Police Training School, Kathua. He asked the constables to help the poor, neglected and the hapless in getting justice by upholding the rule of law.

Referring to the role of the Punjab police in restoring normality in that State, the Mufti said the Jammu and Kashmir police too had to come up in a big way to restore normality in the State.

`Unity will not be allowed to weaken'

Our Jammu Staff Reporter reports:

Addressing a public meeting at the historic Polo Ground at Leh, the Mufti said the unity and integrity of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh would not be allowed to weaken.

He promised to directly address the causes responsible for the growing feeling of discrimination in various parts of the State. ``The coalition Government will remove causes that give rise to alienation or grievances of regional imbalances, leading to the demand for separation.''

The Mufti said his Government's policy of offering a healing touch was aimed at assuaging the feelings of alienation, neglect and discrimination that often threatened the unity of this State.

Referring to those who pursued policies intended to create regional dissensions, he said the coalition partners, with the support of the people of the three regions, would foil attempts to weaken the unity and integrity with a view to disintegrating the State. ``Ours is neither a monarchy nor a political hegemony, but a Government of all the regions and people that believes in respecting genuine aspirations of its people. We will do justice to all regions and sections of the society,'' he added.

He said that empowerment of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) was no concession, but a right of the people of Ladakh.

Given the determination and sincerity of the political leadership of Ladakh and commitment of the administration, the Government would like to make Leh and Kargil districts, development models for the rest of the State.

He said the State would also like to seek greater economic powers. Supporting devolution of greater powers to the States, he said Jammu and Kashmir had vast natural resources that unfortunately remained unexploited.

These, he said, could be tapped with the help of investments by multinationals.

Enunciating his policy to tackle the complex situation in the State arising out of the 12-year-old militancy, the Mufti said the focus of the multi-pronged strategy would be the people.

The Central and State Governments did their best to improve the situation, but did not succeed. ``We want to deal with the situation by winning the hearts and minds of the people,'' he said. Efforts would be made to heal their wounds.

It was an occasion for a show of strength by the coalition Government. The Pradesh Congress chief and chairman, State Coordination Committee, Ghulam Nabi Azad, described the coalition Government as truly representative of the people.

Mehbooba Mufti, vice-president of the PDP, lashed out at the earlier National Conference Government and alleged that the party ensured that Ladakh did not get autonomy.

The leader of the People's Democratic Forum and the CPI(M) general secretary, M.Y. Tarigami, lauded the people of Leh for sending out a message of unity and oneness in the recent elections, putting aside the considerations of religion, culture and languages.

The Panthers Party chief, Bhim Singh, said the Mufti's policies had inspired many parties opposed to each other to come together and form a coalition.

The Chief Minister sanctioned an additional outlay of Rs. 6 crores to Leh to enable the LAHDC to complete important ongoing projects that had been stalled for want of funds.

With this, the total outlay has increased to Rs. 56.88 crores for the current year.

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