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Rahul asks Valley youth to be part of growth story
Ehsan Fazili/TNS

Srinagar, October 4
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi today said it was his desire to forge a relationship with the people of Kashmir, to understand their suffering and help mitigate the problems of the region.

Reaching out to the youth from the state, he said they should join the development process. "I want to establish a relationship with you. A lifelong relationship," he said while addressing a public gathering on the occasion of the foundation stone laying ceremony of Z-Morh tunnel on Srinagar-Leh National Highway between Gagangir and Sonamarg, around 100 km from here.

Recalling his family ties with Kashmir, the Lok Sabha MP from Amethi said: "My family has come from Kashmir and we are Kashmiris.” He also recalled the close ties between Sheikh Abdullah and his great grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru and his father Rajiv Gandhi's strong links with Farooq Abdullah. “I am now here to join hands with Omar Abdullah and the people of Kashmir,” Rahul said.

The Congress leader said the nation is growing rapidly and the same should happen in Kashmir. “India is making speedy progress. Go to any state of the country and you will see that giant strides have been made in various fields like education, health and infrastructure. I want Jammu and Kashmir to make similar progress. I appeal to the Valley youth to join hands in the progress of the state and the country,” Rahul said. He said that government is taking measures to ensure all-weather connectivity between various parts of Jammu and Kashmir. “This project is a first step towards opening the Ladakh area to traffic throughout the year,” adding that the foundation stone of Zojila tunnel would be laid next year. It will be another important milestone, he added.

The 6.5-km two-lane tunnel at Z-Morh is being built at a total cost of Rs 2,717 crore. It will be constructed by Border Roads Organisation in five years time with a concession period of 20 years.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah reiterated the necessity of addressing political issues of Jammu and Kashmir and stressed on initiation of a Centre-State internal dialogue.

“While we have to negotiate various challenges on the development front and deal with militancy related issues, we have to simultaneously focus on addressing political issues of the state,” he said, adding that he had been advocating this aspect continuously for the larger interest of the country and the state. He said the dialogue process between Centre and the state must resume.

Earlier, Rahul visited Leh and Kargil where he held public meetings and interactions with the members of hill development councils.