Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, June 15: Envisioning a new era of good neighborly relations between India and Pakistan, National Conference (NC) patriarch and Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Dr Farooq Abdullah expressed the hope that newly elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharief will hold dialogue with his Indian counterpart, Dr Manmohan Singh to strengthen the peace process.
Talking to reporters at the sidelines of a function here today, Dr Abdullah showed optimism that Mr Sharief will hold dialogue with Dr Singh to further the peace process in the region as dialogue is the only way out for furthering peace in the Sub Continent.
He said there should be peace on borders and the hostilities between the two neighboring countries should end once for all. He asked the people to pray for everlasting peace and prosperity of the militancy ravaged State.
As Dr Abdullah visited Mendhar via Mugal road from Srinagar this morning his convoy was trapped for 25 minutes at Peer Ki Gali as the road was blocked at two places at Poshina and Peer Ki Gali due to shooting of stones from early morning to 11-30 am.
Later the HCC working on construction of the road and police put its men and machinery in action to remove the mulba and make passage for Dr Abdullah’s convoy to attend the public meeting at Mendhar.
Later addressing the public meeting at Mendhar, the NC president said that bonds of friendship between the two neighboring countries will help in solving the problems of millions of people on either side of the border and Line of Control (LoC). “Jammu and Kashmir in particular will reap the benefits of the Indo-Pak friendship”, he added amidst thunderous applause form public.
Dr Abdullah while referring to softening of borders in Europe said “this has transformed the socio-economic landscape of entire Europe and I don’t see any reason why Indo-Pak region will not progress and prosper once there is mutual trust and strong bonding between the two nations”.
He said the idea of opening the roads is not new, it dates back to the era of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah who strived for softening of borders for mitigating the problems of people and giving boost to trade and commerce. He recalled his meeting with former Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulafkar Ali Bhuttoo in Pakistan and said that he wanted to know why Sher-e-Kashmir was so keen for opening of the Muzaffarabad road. “My reply to Mr Bhuttoo was that Sheikh Abdullah wanted the people of two countries to have wide interactions and to see for themselves change taking place in various sectors” he added
Dr Abdullah said that opening of roads will herald a new era of understanding, give boost to trade, commerce and tourism and above all open new vistas of people to people contact, which he described held key to peace and stability in the region.
He also made a mention of Mughal road and said that Sheikh Abdullah was keen to have it revived for the economic emancipation and easy mobility of the people of Poonch and Rajouri belts. He expressed satisfaction over the pace of work and said this link will give tremendous boost to economic activity and open up new areas for tourism.
Dr Abdullah expressed his gratitude to the people of Mendhar for their support to National Conference from time to time and hoped that they will continue to make this great movement of Sher-e-Kahsmir stronger. He expressed happiness over the homecoming of veterans and elderly workers of the Party and said that they have immense responsibilities to make NC a strong fort so that it withstands the challenges with more vigor and fortitude.
Referring to the peace and normalcy dawning across the State especially during the past few years, he said this momentum has to be maintained. He said the State is on the right direction of progress and development under the stewardship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and expressed the hope that all the regions and sub regions will benefit from the initiative taken over the years.
Dr Abdullah while showing a keen interest in the development of far flung and remote areas of the State expressed the hope that the Government will continue to focus on the development of these areas.
Dr Abdullah said that J&K is getting liberal assistance from Centre for undertaking the developmental works and implementing welfare measures. While referring to ambitious Kashmir rail project he said that railways to Qazigund will be commissioned soon and the work on the rail project across the Banihal was progressing and the day was not far when Kashmir will be connected with other parts of the country.
Dr Abdullah was accompanied by NC provincial president Devender Singh Rana who urged the people to further intensify their outreach to the people in far off areas and help them over come their problems. He reiterated that NC represents the urges and aspirations of the people of all three regions of the state and pledged that Party will continue to perform its designated role of steering the state to new pinnacles of peace, progress and development with commitment.
NC MLC, Javed Rana and former MLC Rahim Daad and NC leader Bashir Daad also addressed the public meeting.
The NC leaders Peer Mushtaq Ahmed Bukahri, MLC Dr Shahnaz Ganai, former MLC Ikhlaq Khan and senior leader Bashir Wani were also present.
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