Sunday, December 14, 2008

End Terror to Normalise, PM Tells Pak


Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday asked Pakistan to prevent its territory from being used for terrorist activities against India, saying the nation always stood for better and normal relations with the neighbouring country. He said India wanted to have normal relations with Pakistan and resolve all the bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, through dialogue.

Addressing an election rally at Shangus in the Anantnag disrict, Premier Singh said that in view of the recent attack on incidents in Mumbai it was clear that certain elements in Pakistan were involved in such attacks.

He said India wanted good relations with Pakistan, but cautioned that better ties would only be possible when the neighbouring country stopped its territory from being used against this country. “Our silence should not be misconstrued as our weakness”, he asserted.

AICC general secretary Union minister and JKPCC president Saifuddin Soz, former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Prithviraj Chavan and the local Congress candidates were present on the occasion.

Singh said he always favoured better relations with Pakistan. “We want to have normal relations”, he said, adding that all issues, including the Kashmir issue could be solved through dialogue. “We cannot change borders, but restrictions on the cross-LoC movement of people can be eased”, he commented.

He added that cross LoC links other than Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawlakote roads could be reopened. “There are great steps ahead”, he said.

The Prime Minister said the cross LoC trade would be made more frequent and assured that more links for people-to-people contact and trade would be opened. The Prime Minister, however, cautioned that all this would be possible only when Pakistan checked the undesired terrorist activities against India from its territory.

The Prime Minister also asked the militants to shun the path of extremism, violence and bloodshed. He emphasised that all issues could be resolved only through talks, dialogue and other democratic ways.

“If you vote the Congress to power” in the state, “Hum Jaan Lagakar Kaam Karengey”, the Prime Minister said. “Our effort will be to ensure that everybody has access to power, roads, drinking water and employment”, he commented and vowed to move ahead on the path of development speedily and honestly.

He said his association with the people in Kashmir had been “very special” and he was always happy to be among people here. He also hailed the people for their overwhelming participation in the ongoing Assembly polls saying “your interest in the elections shows that you believe in democracy”.

He said the Congress was the only party that could come up to their expectations in addressing the issues of employment, education, healthcare and better governance. He added that the state progressed a lot during the Congress governments and particularly during the past six years.

He pointed out that during the past three years of the Congress-led coalition government in particular, the state witnessed a lot of progress. In case the Congress returns to power, the government would further expedite the pace of development, he promised.

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