Jammu, May 20: Welcoming the appointment of Manmohan Singh as the next prime minister of India, the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party today assured him of the party's cooperation in finding a peaceful solution to the problems facing the state. "We will extend all cooperation to the new premier in his efforts to seek peaceful resolution of the situation in the state by a constructive dialogue with the legitimate representatives of Ladakh, Jammu and Valley so that continuing discrimination at political, economic and cultural level against the people of Ladakh and Jammu is brought to an end," JKNPP chairman Bhim Singh told reporters here.
While there is a genuine need to have dialogue with the representatives of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir valley by involving ethnic groups like Kashmiri pandits and refugees camping in Jammu, there is also a logical necessity to encourage dialogue among the "legitimate representatives of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, Gilgit and Balistan," he said.
Expressing hope that the Left will be consistent in its support to the prime minister-elect to ensure stability of the government at the Centre, Singh hoped that "indiscriminate disinvestment policy" adopted by the BJP-led NDA government is brought to an end to save the nation from a general sale.
He said an urgent meeting of national integration council should be held to review the situation in the Himalyan states and create a Himalyan development foundation from Jammu and Kashmir to Tripura, which will help in abolishing the seeds of isolation, discrimination and terrorism in the belt.
Commenting on the death of former Kerala chief minister E K Nayanar, he said it was a great loss to the progressive movement in the country.
Bureau Report