J-K govt to initiate dialogue with all stakeholders in state

The PDP-BJP coalition government will initiate a "meaningful dialogue" with all political groups including the Hurriyat Conference and examine the need for de-notifying "disturbed areas" in Jammu and Kashmir, Governor N N Vohra said today.
Vohra said this in his address to the joint session of the state legislature that was disrupted by Opposition National Conference and Congress members over issues like flood relief and removal of local work force from power projects with some of them even standing on their chairs.
"The (PDP-BJP) coalition will facilitate and help initiate a sustained and meaningful dialogue with all internal stakeholders, which will include all political groups irrespective of their ideological views and predilections.

"This dialogue will seek to build a broad-based consensus on the resolution of all outstanding issues of J&K," Vohra said. The new coalition government was sworn in on March one.
Invoking former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Vohra said the coalition government would follow a similar approach,
"To enlarge the constituency of peace and deepen its societal mooring, the coalition government will take considered political initiatives.

"It would be recalled that the erstwhile NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had initiated a dialogue process with all political groups including the Hurriyat Conference, in the spirit of 'Insaaniyat, Kashmiriyat aur Jamhooriyat," he said.

The central government has recently initiated steps for promoting deeper understanding with our neighbours, Vohra said.
"The coalition government will strive to support and strengthen the approaches and initiatives taken by the Centre and building stakes for all in furthering peace and development," he said.
This objective, the Governor said, would be pursued by initiating suitable confidence building measures that would bring about a positive change in the lives of all "our people."
Vohra said a final decision on the continuation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state would be taken by the Centre.
"Keeping in mind the fact that the situation is steadily improving, the government will examine the need for de-notifying 'disturbed areas' and this in turn, would enable the central government to take a final view on the continuation of the AFSPA in such areas," he said.

"In this context, the coalition government will thoroughly review the security in J&K and examine the need and desirability of all the special laws which are being applied in the state," he added.
Independent MLA Engineer Rasheed also repeatedly tried to disrupt the Governor's Address demanding that the Centre return the mortal remains of Afzal Guru.
BJP MLA Kavinder Gupta was earlier elected unanimously as Speaker of the 12th Assembly of J and K.
Speaking after Gupta's election, Chief Minister Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed asserted that democracy is battle of ideas and there would be no gag on the Opposition and that it should keep the government on its toes.

"It is your(Speaker's) duty and our (Government's) duty -- we do not want to gag. Opposition has its viewpoint. We will like that Opposition should keep us on our toes", Sayeed told the Assembly.