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Connecting people my mission: CM Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar: A visitor’s delegation from Muzafarabaad and adjoining areas that called on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehboooba Mufti where they had a discourse on how to enhance the connection between and people and the places they come from.

In the meeting Mehbooba stressed on the need for opening more historic routes along LoC in the State to facilitate people’s movement, she also said that connecting people and regions with more routes and other positive activities is her mission.

Interacting with the said delegation that had come from Muzaffarabad and other areas Mehbooba said “dialogue, reconciliation and economic development in the whole region would bring an end to violence, acrimony and most of all miseries of people in the State.”

She also added that she demands opening of all historic routes across LoC which can get the State on the threshold of prosperity and economic affluence besides sending across the message of peace,
coexistence and amity between India and Pakistan.

“It was unfortunate that violence and acrimony has taken over the discourse between the two countries due to which activity on these positive ideas has slowed down,” she added. However she displayed optimism that this negativity would ultimately fade away and these positive initiatives would take centre stage.

Adding to the discourse she said “the present phase of these CBMs needs to be taken to next higher level where the points of convergence between the two people become much more pronounced and the lines dividing them become irrelevant forever.”

Talking more on the positivity of her mission she stressed on frequent cultural exchanges between youth, institutions, groups and communities on the two sides of LoC adding that cultural exchanges have proved instrumental in bringing people and societies closer.

Mehbooba Mufti said she would like the new generation to take a lead in this. “If we open up educational institutes for each other’s students where they can benefit from the facilities and advancements made so far, it would help a great deal”, she said. Besides, she flagged areas like tourism, disaster management, agriculture, climate change etc where expertise and difficulties can be exchanged to achieve better results.

Taking into consideration the other sects as well Mehbooba informed the visiting delegation that Shardha Peeth, on the other side of LoC, is not only a sacred place for Kashmiri Pandits but represents our collective ethos and pluralistic society of the State. She emphasized on frequent visits to the place by members of Kashmiri Pandit community, thereby opening a new chapter of pilgrimage tourism among the two people across the LoC.

The delegation also shared their views and observations about the opening of routes across LoC, they took a note of the consequent facilitation it has brought to travelers, particularly members of
divided families living on the two sides of the divide.

“The re-opening of these historic routes in the State has been able to restore back, to some extent, the social fabric across the State”, the delegation told Mehbooba while seeking more progress on these positive interventions.

MLA, Karnah, Raja Muzaffar and former legislator, Nizamudin Bhat were also present on the occasion.

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