EU parliamentarians to visit J&K in June

A European Union parliamentary delegation would begin its three-day visit to Kashmir on June 23.

Chief Minister Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed assured the team was free to meet whoever they want as the government believed in transparency.

The delegation would meet cross section of public opinion during its stay in Kashmir, the EU minister counsellor, political affairs and coordination Alexander Spachis said on Sunday.

The visit of the EU parliamentary delegation would be preceded by a three-day visit by Centre's interlocutor N N Vohra on June 17, Spachis, accompanied by the EU's First Secretary Francios Nassoulie, said during a meeting with Sayeed.

Sayeed welcomed the visit and said his government would facilitate the tour. He said the visiting dignitaries were free to meet whoever they liked as the government believed in transparency and had nothing to hide.

He briefed Spachis about the latest situation in Jammu and Kashmir and conveyed to him 'the overwhelming desire of people to have peace and normalcy' in the state.

Sayeed said the situation in the state had witnessed a turnaround and his government was implementing a multipronged strategy to remove the feeling of alienation among the people by winning their hearts and minds and embarking on the development process in the state.

He said the 2002 assembly elections in the state has led to the flowering of democracy in the state and people were now asking for facilities like power, water and roads.

Earlier, he said, they were overwhelmed by the fear for life and these issues had taken the back seat.

He said his government respects the freedom of people to express their opinion and did not place any restriction on forces who were against the election process.

The chief minister said the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre would continue the process of dialogue and he hoped that as time passed those groups who have so far distanced themselves from the process would also join it.

He said even as militancy was still there, the gun-wielding youth could not ignore for long the people's urge for peace.

Referring to the recently held parliamentary elections, Sayeed said elections had shown that the people of J&K were not in favour of perpetuating violence and uncertainty in the state.

Sayeed advised Spachis to take time out for visiting various tourist destinations like Gulmarg and Pahalgam. He also told him to make an itinerary for the visiting EU teams to go to these places.

Later, Spachis also met People's Democratic Party Chief and newly elected member of parliament Mehbooba Mufti and discussed with her the current situation in the state.