Excelsior Correspondent
![Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Devender Singh Rana addressing party workers meeting in Bhalwal block on Sunday.](http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/page314-150x128.jpg)
Agore, Nov 11: Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Devender Singh Rana said that opening of Jammu – Sialkote road will be a new milestone in the Indo-Pak relations and will help in improving people to people contact across the border.
Rana who was addressing party workers meeting in Bhalwal Block here today said that people of Jammu and Sialkote have a great history of relationship and bond and it is necessary to pickup those threads and revive the bonds.
Hailing the assertion of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in this regard, Rana said “I hope that Indo-Pak will work together to make this dream a reality”. He said the friendly relation between India and Pakistan is essential for peace and stability not only in this sub- continent and South-Asia, but in the entire world. He said to have better relationship it is important to have increased people to people contact, cultural, intellectual and academic exchange.
The Political Advisor said opening of Jammu – Sialkote road would not only open trade and travel routes, it will open vistas for cultural exchange and revival of the traditional bonhomie that existed between the people across the border.
Rana said the overwhelming response to the Chief Minister’s announcement to pursue the opening of the Jammu – Sialkote road is an indication of the yearning of this of this part of the country to engage with the people across the International border .
Highlighting the achievements of the State Coalition Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Rana said, ” holding of Panchayat elections is a landmark step. The powers have been devolved to the Panchayats and after the second and the third tier come into place which will be happening soon the state’s Panchyati Raj system will be the most robust system in the country”.
Castigating those who have initiated a disinformation campaign about the lack of powers to the Panchayats, Rana said the powers that lay with the Panchayats today make them more potent and empowered than the Panchayats in the neighbouring States like Himachal, Punjab and Haryana.
Those who were present in the meeting included Sham Lal, Block President, Ravinder Singh Peter, Anwar Khan, Sain Khan, Nakshater Singh, Mumtaz Ahmed, Sudershan Singh, Janak Singh and others.