Srinagar, Apr 18: Addressing his first public rally in the Valley, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said the Centre will work in tandem with the new government in Jammu and Kashmir for the state`s development and root out unemployment there. Addressing a mammoth public meeting at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium here, the first by a prime minister in Srinagar in the last 15 years, Vajpayee said, "We, sitting in New Delhi, are concerned about Jammu and Kashmir."
He expressed hope that the Kashmiri new year, `Navroz`, would usher in peace, prosperity and brotherhood.

Accusing Pakistan of not responding to peace initiatives taken by India, Vajpayee said problems could not be resolved through the barrel of the gun but only through dialogue.
"I have said that every issue should be settled by talks. We are prepared...Internal as well as external issues," he said.
Vajpayee also congratulated the people of the state for exercising their democratic right "at grave risk to their lives and even daring death."
"It (elections) is a sacred right which can change your destiny and if it falls into wrong hands, it can lead to destruction," he said adding, "We should remember that after ages, through the democratic process we have got the opportunity to decide our fate."
He said people had ridiculed him when he announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort that free and fair polls would be held in Jammu and Kashmir and a popular government would be installed in the state. Referring to the celebration of Navroz by the people in the state, Mahavir Jayanti by Hindus and observance of Good Friday by Christians, he said, "Only in India do you find people worshipping in their own way and helping each other."
Observing that unemployment was one of the biggest problems in J&K, Vajpayee assured the people that the Centre would make all efforts to provide jobs.
"In the last three years, the NDA government has fulfilled its promise of providing nearly three crore jobs, about a crore each year. I can assure you that we will make all efforts to generate jobs in the state," he said.
Earlier on his arrival, the PM laid the foundation stone for expansion of the Srinagar airport terminal saying it required to be given international status in the days to come. Bureau Report