The Hindu : No pressure from Centre: Mufti

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 02, 2003

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No pressure from Centre: Mufti

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 1. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, today said that "healing touch" was a philosophy and not a "policy" to win the hearts and minds of the people and address the situation in the State. There was an incorrect perception that the Central Government had "some reservations" about the "healing touch". There was no pressure on him to change his Government's strategy and "healing touch" was an important component of it.

The Mufti was speaking to journalists after meeting the representatives of the Kashmiri Pandit community here. Joint endeavours of the Government and the people were needed to create conditions for the return of the Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, he said. Several Kashmiri Pandit delegations and individuals met the Chief Minister at Kashmir House to express solidarity with the victims of the Nadimarg massacre. The Chief Minister told the delegations that the State administration had taken steps for the security of the scattered Pandit population in the Valley.

More than one delegation told him that they hoped to travel to the Valley to meet Muslim religious leaders and establish people-to-people contact. He said that such efforts would go a long way in normalising conditions and restoring mutual trust.

H.N. Jattoo of the All-India Kashmiri Pandit Conference said that the delegations would talk to Muslim religious leaders and separatist organisations, including the Hurriyat Conference. The purpose was to establish whether there was a social acceptance for the return of Pandits. He said that the Pandits had also told the Chief Minister that the healing touch must be felt by both communities.

Also among those who met Mr. Sayeed today were representatives of the All-India Kashmiri Samaj, the J&K Vichar Manch and the Najafgarh Residents Welfare Association.

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