Wars, ceasefire violations not to change ground situation: Omar

MANDI (POONCH): Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Friday described violation of ceasefire on LOC inimical to confidence building between the two neighbours. He highlighted the need for restoring calm on borders helping peace to root. He said ceasefire violations have done no good in the past and will change nothing now.
“We have witnessed tension and violation of ceasefire and constant shelling on borders. India and Pakistan have fought three and half wars, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed 25 years of violence and disturbance but nothing changed on ground”, he elaborated and said that when both India and Pakistan are recognizing the fact that friends can be changed but not neighbours then there is need to create necessary thaw in their relations and live as good neighbours.
Referring to the demand made to him by the people living on LOC to help stop shelling on the Line of Control, the Chief Minister assured them that he would place their request at the right forum adding that any decision in this regard is not within the capacity of the State Government.
The Chief Minister was speaking to gatherings of people on his second day visit to flood-hit areas in Jammu Division today, visited to the areas of Treu in Kalakote, Kalnai in Mandi, Bella in Surankote and various other areas in Poonch and Rajouri districts and spoke to people to get first hand appraisal of damages caused by floods.
The Chief Minister said that besides facing the brunt of tension and shelling on LOC, the people in various areas have to face the natural calamity in the shape of floods and incessant rains. He said that Government would take all necessary measures for providing relief to the flood-hit families. He said, he is taking stock of the situation at a high level meeting in Srinagar today to work out relief and rehabilitation programme for the families affected by recent floods.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Minister for PHE and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma and Minister of State for Revenue, Ajaz Ahmad Khan. The Legislators Ajaz Jan, Shahnaz Ganai, Javaid Rana, former Chairman Kissan Board, Mushtaq Ahmad Bukhari were also present in their constituencies and apprised the Chief Minister of the damage caused by floods in their areas.