J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

All-India Editors’ Conference
Azad urges media to highlight development
Srinagar, October 17
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here today sought media’s cooperation in reaching out to people across the country and lamented that news about the negative aspects of society overshadowed developmental issues. He said the case of Jammu and Kashmir was no different from other parts of the country and asserted that his government was trying to create an infrastructure, ensure transparent and corruption-free administration, apart from bringing down militancy and human rights violations.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad talks with union rural development minister Dr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh at the Sher-e- Kashmir International Convention Complex in Srinagar on Wednesday.— Tribune photo by Mohd Amin War

All-India Editors’ Conference
Azad urges media to highlight development
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 17
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here today sought media’s cooperation in reaching out to people across the country and lamented that news about the negative aspects of society overshadowed developmental issues. He said the case of Jammu and Kashmir was no different from other parts of the country and asserted that his government was trying to create an infrastructure, ensure transparent and corruption-free administration, apart from bringing down militancy and human rights violations.

He was speaking on the inaugural function of the two-day All-India Editors’ Conference on social sector issues at the Sher-e- Kashmir International Convention Complex (SKICC) here today. The conference organised by the Press Information Bureau and the Jammu and Kashmir government, was jointly inaugurated by Azad and union rural development minister Dr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh at the SKICC this morning. Union minister of state for Railways R. Velu and union minister of state for human resource development, M. A. A. Fatimi were also present. This has been second editors’ conference with focus on Jammu and Kashmir held here in the past two years.

Though the administration was pre-occupied with all issues, there had been 75 per cent decline in cases of corruption, Azad pointed out. Expressing gratitude to the Central government in development in different sectors, particularly the Rural Development Ministry, Azad sought the cooperation of media in projecting positive aspects in the state. He lamented that coverage in print and electronic media about the positive aspects like infrastructure development, social sector, decline in militancy and improvement in the situation was not "covered fully", adding that it was equivalent to zero.

Referring to human rights violations, Azad said things had improved to a great extent. He said custodial deaths had declined almost to 5 per cent during this year with total adherence to the Prime Minister’s zero tolerance assurance. There had not been a single case of custodial disappearance so far this year and in case the next two months have a similar record ,2007 would be the first year in 19 years of militancy without " a single case of custodial disappearance", Azad said. 

Govt interest in peace process waning: Mufti
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 17
Former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed expressed dismay over the "waning interest" of the state government in the peace and confidence-building process and urged it to revitalise and push forward the "sagging peace process".

The PDP patron while addressing party leaders here today said the Jammu and Kashmir government had crucial role in representing the aspirations of people and building consensus over the resolution of the state’s political and economic problems. He said the position of the state and its government in the constitutional system of the country was unique and this had to reflect in its functioning. "Dismal movement forward on the J&K-specific confidence- building measures ,including facilitating free movement of people and goods across the LoC, has raised serious doubts in over the viability of the process", he said.

Holding the government had the mandate to channel public sentiment along positive lines for the peaceful resolution of the state’s problems, the Mufti said progress on the peace and reconciliation front would be possible with resolve and political courage. He said the coalition government, in initial phase, led the process from the front and it had impact on the ground.

The Mufti’s statement came a day after Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who heads the Congress-PDP coalition government, said he did not believe in hollow sloganeering or negative politics but had his mind focused on development and infrastructure building.