No decision yet on Kashmir elections, says Soz

By IANS

Srinagar : Union Water Resources Minister and chief of the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Congress party Saif-ud-Din Soz said Wednesday the ruling alliance here would run its full term.


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“The timing of the state assembly elections is yet to be decided, but the present ruling alliance would run its full term,” Soz said here.

He was addressing a public meeting in the Sher-e-Kashmir Municipal Park in the high security Residency Road area of the city Wednesday. He arrived here first time after being nominated as the chief of the state Congress unit in the wake of the resignation of Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed.

“Vote has worked wonders in Pakistan and the dialogue process with Pakistan would start once the new government takes office there,” he said.

He also said doors of the Prime Minister’s Office are open for separatist politicians for a dialogue.

Taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Soz said, “Those who want to divide India have no right to rule the country.”

“Our Pro-People budget has created frustration in the opposition BJP. India belongs to everybody and those trying to take a myopic view of nationalism are enemies of the country’s unity,” said Soz.

He also spoke of the Indo-US nuclear deal.

“We have just three percent power generation due to nuclear energy. Therefore, India needs the nuclear deal with the US.”

“We sincerely request our Left allies to accept our demand to allow the country to go ahead with the nuclear deal,” Soz said.

He hoped the difference on the nuclear deal would be sorted out with the Left allies.

Talking of the alarming level of unemployment in Kashmir, Soz said: “While everything will be done to generate more avenues of employment in the government and private sectors, the youth must start thinking in terms of enterprise as the world is fast moving forward.”

He said militancy had created a lot of problems in the state.

“Gun takes away the peace of mind. Brothers are separated from brothers and nothing is achieved by resorting to violence,” he said.

Senior Congress leaders Mangat Ram Sharma, Taj Mohiuddin, Gulam Rasool Kar, Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed and Gulam Ahmad Mir were present.

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