J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Talks offer positive step: Mufti
SRINAGAR, May 10 — Describing talks offer to the Kashmiri separatists as a “very serious move” by the Centre, the former Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today sought further strengthening of the “dialogue process.”

Charar-e-Sharif being rebuilt
SRINAGAR, May 10 — The shrine of Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani at Chrar-e-Sharief, that was reduced to rubble in an encounter between the militants and the security forces five years ago, is being reconstructed at a cost of Rs 17.22 crore. Out of this Rs 1.42 crore have been spent so far.

Talks offer positive step: Mufti
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, May 10 — Describing talks offer to the Kashmiri separatists as a “very serious move” by the Centre, the former Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today sought further strengthening of the “dialogue process”.

“Once you start this process, it has to reach its logical end.... we must all help the dialogue process”, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, former Union Home Minister and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said in reply to questions at a press conference at his residence on Wednesday. “This is a very serious move by the Centre to start the initiation of a dialogue.... it is a positive step as well”, he said adding that such a step after the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee’s Lahore visit and in the backdrop of the Kargil intrusion was a positive step.

Answering questions, Mufti Sayeed said the response of the Hurriyat was also “positive” as far as talks were concerned. “They (Hurriyat leaders) are ready to have dialogue. I think for some time it will be informal than a formal dialogue” to end trouble in Kashmir. The former Union Minister said the three parties — the APHC, India and even Pakistan were willing to have a dialogue. Saying there was no formal offer yet by the Government of India, the Mufti said the two countries fought three wars over Kashmir in the past five decades. “If a way comes out, every Prime Minister will like to have it”, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said.

The Mufti, however, held that any kind of talks should be “without any pre-conditions”. He added that the Central Government felt that wrong policies had been adopted over Kashmir during the past 11 years of militancy. The BJP government thought that the UF Government and the Congress Government had a “soft approach” towards Kashmir. The BJP-led government adopted a pro-active policy to fight militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, which further alienated the people here, he said. “The policy of the Government of India has really changed, and we have inputs that this government realised that the bullet-for-bullet policy is not going to work... so it thought a dialogue is necessary”, the Mufti said.

The former Home Minister said he had been advocating the initiation of a dialogue for the past four years.

Referring to the performance of the National Government Conference headed by Dr Farooq Abdulla, the Mufti alleged of rampant corruption and nepotism. The state government had failed to deliver the goods.

He announced to launch a “movement for economic relief” shortly. He said the hike in the prices of essential commodities had burdened the people at the state and demanded that Jammu and Kashmir be exempted from the hike in prices of essential commodities.

Charar-e-Sharif being rebuilt
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, May 10 — The shrine of Sheikh Nooruddin Noorani at Chrar-e-Sharief, that was reduced to rubble in an encounter between the militants and the security forces five years ago, is being reconstructed at a cost of Rs 17.22 crore. Out of this Rs 1.42 crore have been spent so far.

This information was given at a meeting of the Muslim Auqaf Trust (MAT), looking after shrines and mosques in the valley, under the leadership of Dr Farooq Abdullah, Chief-Minister chairman, MAT held here yesterday. The Chief Minister reviewed the pace of the progress of the complex. He was told that the complex would be built as per its original architectural grandeur.

The meeting attended by several office bearers of MAT also took stock of the implementation of educational programme launched by MAT. A model school at Makhdoom Sahib here will start functioning this year with a special thrust on information technology.

MAT is also setting up an Islamic university and research centre in the valley. It was decided to get the design of the proposed university from expert architects of Deoband, Bareilly and Lucknow. The university is likely to be set up at Malshahi Bagh, Ganderbal, near here.

Attaching immense significance to the spread of education and imbibing moral values among younger generations Dr Abdullah said religious teaching would help in the overall growth of the youth, an official spokesman said The Chief Minister emphasised the need for taking up such programmes by MAT which provided succour to the needy and were in the larger interests of the society as a whole. He said they had to shoulder additional responsibilities in making good the loss of the Auqaf assets, which had suffered damages in the past 10 years.