SRINAGAR, March 13: Former Union home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayed, MP, called for an immediate end to the policy of ``bullet-for-bullet'' on Thursday and instead advocated talking to separatists to bring peace in the state.``If we can talk to separatist organisations in the northeast and other parts of the country, what is wrong in talking to our people in Kashmir?'' he asked, while talking to mediapersons here. He said that for the elimination of gun culture, guns from both sides had to stop booming as the ``bullet-for-bullet'' approach would never bring peace in the Valley. He suggested that a dialogue should be opened immediately with all separatists including the Kashmir Hurriyat Conference. Stating that there was no change in the overall situation in the Valley, with people still facing several difficulties, he said that the security forces were still committing excesses.
Referring to the Farooq Abdullah Government, he said that even though it had received liberal financial support from theCentre, no developmental work had been undertaken and corruption still prevailed everywhere.
On his win from Anantnag, he said that it was clearly a vote against the establishment. Mufti said that despite unfavourable weather conditions, people came in large numbers to defeat the National Conference (NC). The state Congress was without any head here and it was due to the efforts of local leaders that he won, he added.
He attributed the loss of Jammu seat to the infighting in Congress in Srinagar. The NC rigged the election using the official machinery, particularly in Kandi belt and in far-flung areas, he alleged. Asked about the poor show by the Congress candidate in Baramulla, he said, ``We were in favour of supporting Muzzaffar Hussain Bag but the high command did not permit us to do so. This enabled the NC to win.''
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
