'Peace process only way forward in India-Pakistan relationship'

Jammu, May 15: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on Friday said the peace process between India and Pakistan was the only way forward and needed to be continued despite hiccups. “Peace process between India and Pakistan is the only way forward in relationship between the two countries and the same must continue despite hiccups,” he told media during a luncheon here. Sayeed said Prime Minister rendra Modi’s visit to Chi was a welcome step as it would pave the way for better relations between the two countries. “Initiatives like this will ultimately benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

After taking over as the prime minister, Sayeed said, Modi has been meeting SAARC leadership and other world leaders and everybody should welcome such an initiative.

About his governce roadmap, he said: “My government would be completing 90 days on June 1. I do not believe in making tall claims. My priority is good governce, transparency, drive against corruption and strengthening the Panchayati Raj in the state.” Stating that tourism was a thrust area in Jammu and Kashmir, Sayeed said it was bad weather that often prevented tourist inflow to the state.

“Jammu-Srigar tiol highway gets closed due to bad weather. The tourists are inconvenienced by this. The Amarth Yatra also takes place during the rainy season and during this period, the tourists cannot freely visit places of their interest,” he said. Sayeed said his government was focused on development of infrastructure and other facilities in the Jammu region. “We plan an 18-hole golf course for Jammu city. If Gulmarg can have a Gandola, why can’t we have a ropeway in Jammu city? We can engage the same firm for laying the ropeway in Jammu that constructed the Gandola project in Baramulla district,” he said. Sayeed also spoke of an IIT coming up in Samba district of the Jammu region. Answering a question about the AIIMS being set-up in the Kashmir Valley instead of the Jammu region, deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said Jammu region has got an IIT while the AIIMS has been allotted by the union government to the valley.

Singh, however, added that all hospitals in the Jammu region would be fully developed and equipped with state of the art facilities.   (IANS)