Srinagar: Accusing BJP of attempting to derail the peace initiative in Jammu and Kashmir, a senior minister has appealed to the saffron party to shed off its prejudices and extend cooperation to the Centre for lasting peace in the region.
"We appeal all the parties, especially BJP, to shed off their prejudices and come forward for working out a lasting solution to the issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir for establishment of peace in the state," Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar said.
Sagar was addressing a public meeting after inaugurating a model village at Waadipora in Handwara, 80 kms from here in north Kashmir Kupwara district, yesterday.
"We are hopeful that in near future a lasting solution will be worked out which would usher in an era of peace, prosperity and development in the state," he said.
Referring to the recent statements of the BJP leaders on Centre`s initiative on Kashmir, the minister asked the BJP to desist from derailing the ongoing initiative for the peaceful resolution of issues concerning the state.
"They should not try to undo the work done by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during NDA regime," he said.
"Serious efforts were taken during the regime of Vajpayee and process was also initiated when different schools of thought were incorporated in peace talks for finding a lasting solution to the vexed (Kashmir) issue," the minister said.
BJP state unit head Shamsher Singh Manhas had recently said that the interlocutors were tasked by the UPA government at the Centre to accommodate viewpoints of anti-national and divisive forces and not those of nationalist and secular forces.
Referring to the role played by MGNREGA in poverty alleviation and developing the rural landscape, the Minister asked the people to avail the maximum benefits from the scheme as an amount of Rs 38 crore has been earmarked for the district.
"The scheme is demand driven and there is no dearth of funds under the same," Sagar, who is also Rural Development Minister, said.
PTI
