Dehradun, Jan 14: Strongly defending his healing touch policy, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today said his government was successful in building confidence among the people of the strife-torn state and called for opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus route. ''For the last 14 years, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been living in turmoil. But now with the cooperation of all parties at the Centre and at the state level, the state government has been successful in dealing with the problem of militancy through healing touch policy," the Chief Minister told reporters here.

Citing figures, mufti said that last year nearly 55 lakh pilgrims had visited Mata Vaishno Devi shrine while 1,80 lakh pilgrims went to Amaranth Shrine and added that around two lakh tourists came to the Kashmir Valley. " These figures indicate that the situation in the state was fast returning to normal" he said adding that even the human rights situation had improved considerably with the cooperation of the security forces and the police.

He also called for opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Suchetgarh-Sialkot bus routes for the benefit of the divided families.

Bureau Report