By IANS
Srinagar : Terrorism cannot match the strength and unity of the people in Kashmir, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said here Monday, adding that the courage shown by women in preserving the spirit of Kashmiriyat in troubled times was indeed praiseworthy.
“It has always been a matter of happiness for me to come to Kashmir, but today being among Kashmiri women, who kept courage during worst times and upheld the spirit of Kashmiriyat, has made me proud,” Gandhi said while addressing a women’s empowerment conference at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) here.
Hours before Gandhi arrived, a powerful blast rocked Srinagar near the central jail, injuring five women personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson said violence had left many wounds in the hearts and minds of the women of Jammu and Kashmir.
“These wounds have to be healed. The success of any government must be measured by its ability to address the problems of the people. The UPA government led by Manmohan Singh at the centre and the coalition in the state have done a lot to mitigate the sufferings of the people,” she said.
Gandhi said the state government had been doing good work in tourism, employment and road building besides consolidating peace. But added that much more needed to be done to meet the expectations of the Kashmiri people.
She announced that the central social welfare board had increased assistance to the state from Rs.10 million to Rs.60 million.
The Congress chief noted that people to people contact across the borders had been encouraged by the UPA government. “More routes for such contact have now been opened,” she said.
She stressed that women’s empowerment could only become a reality through education and opportunity and asked the state government to encourage self-help groups to help women.
Gandhi was presented with a ‘pheren'(Kashmiri garment) and a samovar. She wore the pheren while addressing the well-attended conference.
The UPA chairperson was on a day’s visit to Srinagar accompanied by Home Minister Shivraj Patel, Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury and M.M. Jacob, Congress Working Committee (CWC) member in charge of Kashmir affairs.
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and state Congress president Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed were among those who received Gandhi.