Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 11: National Conference president and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah today called for “unconditional dialogue” between India and Pakistan as the best way to resolve all outstanding issues affecting peace between the two neighbouring countries.
“It is the need of the hour that both countries (India and Pakistan) work towards strengthening their relations and start an unconditional dialogue on all issues big and small for everlasting peace in the region,” Abdullah said in a statement here.
Congratulating new Pakistan President, Mamnoon Hussain, on his assuming office, Abdullah appealed to the leadership of the two countries to take the steps necessary to engage in meaningful dialogue.
“We congratulate Hussain on becoming the 12th President of Pakistan and are hopeful that he will work for normalisation of ties with… India.
“Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief has already expressed his desire to improve relations with India,” he said.
Expressing concern over the communal violence in Muzaffarnagar, Farooq asked the Centre and Uttar Pradesh Government to chalk out a strategy to curb such incidents and ensure adequate protection to minorities.
“The acts of communal violence in a democratic country like India is very unfortunate… There are some elements in the country who do not want to see Hindus and Muslims live together and are bent upon dividing the nation on linguistic, religious and geographical considerations,” Abdullah said .
He appealed to the people of Muzaffarnagar to maintain communal harmony and brotherhood and reject the subversive elements.
“I am hopeful that the Centre and the State Government will join hands to bring the situation under control in the violence-hit areas and ensure protection to minorities,” he said.
The Union Minister also appealed to President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and secular leadership of the country to chalk out a joint strategy to check such type of incidents in future.
Abdullah, who is also president of ruling National Conference, welcomed the Prime Minister’s financial assistance package for the protection and rehabilitation of minorities.
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