India
J & K has become moneymaking machine: Farooq
Indore | Sunday, May 11 2008 IST
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah today said the state has become a moneymaking machine involving everyone, including political leaders, bureaucrats and the army. ''It's open loot in Jammu and Kashmir. No one would like to have a solution. The state has become a means of income for the army, security and intelligence agencies, bureaucrats and political leaders,'' Mr Abdullah told reporters here, adding that a lot of money was being spent but there was no accountability. He said no one knows about the steps taken by the Centre for resolving the Kashmir issue. Mr Abdullah felt that a one-sided solution to Kashmir would be meaningless. The solution must be acceptable to majority in both India and Pakistan. Process of simplifying movement across borders has started, he said. Borders have been opened up at two places. There is need to open borders at more places. Plans to open trade routes had not fructified, he said. However, he said, terrorism should not start again or else dialogue would stop. On the demand by the People's Democratic Party for reducing troops in the state, Mr Abdullah said both the Congress and the PDP were concerned about their vote banks. Hence, both were raising different demands. He said any decision should be taken after taking the situation into account. On migration of Kashmiri pundits during his tenure as Chief Minister, Mr Abdullah said migration took place during the tenure of former Union Minister Jagmohan as J & K Governor. Hence, Mr Jagmohan was responsible. He said inflation was the top most issue at present. Hike in price of crude oil had badly affected the state as most transportation takes place by road. He demanded the Centre to reduce tax on petrol and diesel so that people are less burdened. -- (UNI) -- 11DR86.xml
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