UPA Government must be trusted on Kashmir issue: Sonia Gandhi

NEW DELHI - Urging those dissatisfied in Jammu and Kashmir with the UPA government, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said trust must be reported in the latter government to enable it to build a future for the former.

“We are faced with a new situation in Jammu and Kashmir, events of last few months are painful. I urge all those who are dissatisfied in Jammu and Kashmir with the government to trust the government, give peace a chance and enable us to build future for them, Gandhi said at a meeting of the All India Congress Committee here, which is being held after 13 years.

Expressing anguish over the loss of lives in the state, Gandhi said: ” The events of last months in Kashmir Valley have been painful. I speak for all of us when I express my anguish over the loss of so many young lives.”

“Our sorrow for those who died does not diminish our gratitude for our security personnel who are confronted with most difficult and delicate situation,” she added.

She further reiterated her party’s position that no solution can be arrived at without a “meaningful political dialogue” with all shades of people in Jammu and Kashmir.

Kashmir has witnessed massive demonstrations against Indian rule in the last three months and at least 100 stone-pelting protestors have been killed in firing by the security forces. (ANI)

In an attempt to provide succor and relief to the people of Kashmir; the Central Government first sent an All Party delegation under the leadership of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram to get a sense of 5the situation prevailing on the ground in the state.

Thereafter, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, appointed three interlocutors included noted journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, academician Radha Kumar and Information Commission M.M Ansari to interact with all shades of opinion in the three region and the state - the Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Ladakh - and prepare a report with recommendations for the next steps,

On Monday, Chidambaram cautioned the interlocutors to stick to their brief of seeking various shades of opinion and not indulge shades in “Cricket Commentary.”

“I think media should not ask and interlocutors should not give a ball0by-ball commentary about their dialogue. This is interlocution. This is not a cricket match,” Chidambaram said, and added that they should refrain from giving “ball-by-ball” commentary about the progress being made in the dialogue.

He also said that the interlocutors have been able to change “the discourse” in the state, and added, that now there is a sense of expectation that a political solution could emerge through the dialogue process.(ANI)