centre can't be more flexible on kashmir

Centre can’t be more flexible on Kashmir issue: Azad
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 29
Senior Congress leader and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said today that the Central government could not be more flexible on the Kashmir issue and it was time for the hardliners (separatists) to understand the changed times.

Azad differed with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with regard to his (Omar’s) recent statement calling Kashmir as a political problem. He said it would be wrong to call it just a political problem. “There are economic issues. When the gap between the have and the have-not widens, there is always trouble,” he added.

Azad said this while interacting with mediapersons at a meet-the-press organised by the Press Club here this afternoon. Responding to a query that why the Congress was complacent in handling the Kashmir issue, he said the party had always taken steps to resolve the problem, but it could not be more flexible now.

“I think a lot of initiatives were taken but in response to say 10 steps taken by the Congress, the hardliners (separatists) have not taken a single step forward,”he added.

Azad called upon the Hurriyat leaders to talk with the government and help the three interlocutors appointed by the UPA government. “I urge them to hold talks with the government to find a solution. They should notice the changed times in the state. Now, people demand roads, schools, hospitals and transportation. Azadi is not an issue. The Hurriyat or other hardliners should see the signals and participate in maintaining peace and harmony.”

The lack of initiative by the separatists had cost the state much, the Union minister said. “I was watching scenes of violence in Egypt and was reminded of stone throwing incidents in the Valley. These incidents still pain me. I am relieved that there is peace now, but let me tell you it is always one-way traffic for finding lasting peace. The Government of India is the one taking initiatives.”

Refusing to be drawn into assessing the performance of the present government led by Omar Abdullah, Azad said he always concentrated on the job given to him. “At present my job is to run the Union Ministry of Health and I don’t see any other side.”

(first published in The Tribune dated January 30,2011)
link : http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110130/j&k.htm#1