Don’t make an issue out of Dogra Certificate: Soz

Srinagar: Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Saifuddin Soz, Tuesday said Dogra certificate issue should be thoroughly discussed in the state cabinet but there was no justification for people to make an issue out of it.He was referring to Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s ultimatum to the government to revoke the order by April 12 or face a “peaceful struggle.”“The Dogra certificate gives relaxation in recruitment process in para-military forces. I don’t think it’s a big issue. I believe it can be resolved, and there is no need to launch an agitation over this issue,” he said, in response to a query on Geelani’s ultimatum, during a press conference at party headquarters here.Soz, however, said that the issue should be discussed in the cabinet.He also welcomed Geelani’s visit to a Kashmiri Pandit transit camp, saying Kashmiri Pandits were an inalienable part of the Kashmiri society.Hailing the “huge participation” of people in the Panchayati polls as a step towards the strengthening of democracy, Soz said the Panchayati system would help improve governance at grass-root level.Soz also condemned the killing of Jamiat Ahli-Hadees chief, Moulana Showkat Ahmad Shah, saying persecution of people on the basis of ideology and beliefs was unacceptable.He said Shah’s killing had caused a void in the society which can never be fulfilled because the slain cleric was a symbol of tolerance. Soz said he along with PCC vice president, Khrisan Amla, visited Shah’s residence at Lal Bazar and expressed his and Congress president, Sonia Gandhi’s condolences with the bereaved family.Soz said a reshuffle in the cabinet was on the cards, but refused to divulge further details.Welcoming the revival of Ram-Jethmalani-led Kashmir Committee, Soz said it would help assess the ground situation in Kashmir.Expressing his disappointment over the “neglect” of some parts of Srinagar city, Soz said the administration needed to overcome “inertia” and work for development of people.“I must admit that the sanitation or condition of roads in certain parts of Srinagar is even worse than rural areas, and I have received a memorandum on this from my party workers,” he said.