'J&K must generate financial muscle'

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said he was not against the Centre giving more autonomy to the state but stressed that economic self-dependence was a must.

Autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir is an option but the views of all three regions of the state would have to be reconciled to reach a point of agreement, Sayeed told the Doordarshan in an interview here.

While there is demand for more autonomy in Kashmir, demand of total integration and Union Territory status is being voiced in Jammu and Ladakh respectively, Sayeed said.

He said he was not against more autonomy being given to the state but the political parties would have to think if they want a Jammu and Kashmir perennially holding a begging bowl even for meeting the salaries of its employees. "I want to rid the state of the begging bowl syndrome," he said.

The chief minister recalled how the erstwhile ruling party, passed a resolution on autonomy in the state legislature and when the Centre rejected it outright, its leadership remained clung to power instead of protesting.

On engaging of separatist groups in the dialogue process, he said the views of the mainstream political parties on accession of the state were known and it was significant that people from other side of the spectrum were involved in the talks.

We have to convince those who have a problem with accession.

He expressed surprise over the refusal of separatists to hold talks with centre when the offer was unconditional.