Open all traditional routes to harness inherent potential of JK: Mufti

Rajouri: Former Chief Minister and patron of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Thursday called for opening all traditional routes, connecting Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the world to harness inherent potential of the state. Addressing a public meeting at Rajouri, Sayeed said that partition has plugged all traditional routes which were earlier connecting the state with rest of the world.“Opening of all traditional routes through Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh would help the state in harnessing its inherent potential as a business centre as it was before 1947,” Mufti said. The socio-economic growth of the State has been restricted after the partition due to plugging of all routes, he added.He claimed that the party’s self rule document aims at creating Jammu and Kashmir as a bridge between India and Pakistan and both the countries would offer tariff reductions and develop this belt as Free Trade zone. “Development of this area as free trade zone would attract maximum foreign direct investment,” he said.The former home minister of India termed opening of crossing points on LoC as biggest Confidence Building Measures (CBM). But he hastened to add that the no step has been taken to felicitate free movement of people from both sides of LoC since new coalition government took over the reins of the state. “The facility of visiting both sides of LoC should be extended beyond the divided families to common citizens of the two sides,” he emphasized, PBI reported.He also demanded Chhamb Jourian-Mirpur, Nowshere-Mirpur-Kotli and Teetwal-Chilhan routes and other routes to exploit the full potential of this region.Referring to recently held Panchayat elections, he claimed that 70 percent of Panchayat members belong of PDP. “To undermine the credibility of Panchayati Raj institution, the present regime has been trying to lure the newly elected Panchayat members,” he said. He also warned that such attempt of the government would prove disastrous for the democracy.