ONLY DIALOGUE CAN END THE VIOLENCE IN J&K: MEHBOOBA

JAMMU: Describing dialogue as the only means to sort out issues and end the culture of violence, chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said that she hopes that people from all shades of opinion in Jammu & Kashmir would join the dialogue process initiated in the state.

In her message to people on 69th Republic Day, Mehbooba said dialogue is the only way by which the culture of violence in the state could be ended.

She said the appointment of Dineshwar Sharma as the interlocutor of the state is a major development to ensure durable peace in the state rather than a temporary measure to calm down tempers as happened in the past.

“I compliment the citizens of this city who have exemplified themselves as a tolerant society in the present-day world where hatred and suspicion have taken the centre stage”, she said in her message.

Outlining the achievements of her government, the CM said, “As the things cooled, I started the process and ordered the withdrawal of cases registered from 2008 to 2014 against 4,327 youth. We also ordered withdrawal of cases registered from 2015 to 2017 against 4,740 totalling to the withdrawal of cases against more than 9,700 youths so far.”

This humanitarian gesture by her government would yield more positive results, the CM added.