Terming peace imperative for taking Jammu & Kashmir out of uncertainties, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday appealed to the people to maintain peace so that she can take her agenda of dialogue and reconciliation to higher levels of fulfillment.

Addressing a public meeting in Devsar area of South Kashmir after laying the foundation of some key development projects in the state, the chief minister said: “Give me peace. I will purse dialogue, opening of routes along LoC, like Kargil-Skardu, Jammu-Sialkote, Nowshehra-Jhangar etc. … I wish people on both sides would march together on the path of growth and development”.

Mehbooba said all along the agenda of her Government has been to take people of the State out of the mess of violence, initiation of consultative process in the State to sort out issues and develop Jammu & Kashmir as a modern State of the country. Some movements have been made, she said, and many decisions on public welfare, like withdrawal of cases against around 10,000 youth, regularisation of 61,000 daily wagers, a massive economic and reconstruction plan, were initiated by her Government during the last three years.

The chief minister said the situation across the borders in the State is not encouraging, with reports of frequent deaths and destruction and a demand by villagers for construction of bunkers.

“This is unfortunate. In the 21st century when they should be demanding better schools, good hospitals and efficient services they are asking for bunkers to protect themselves”, she said and added the people of the State continue to bear the brunt of partition and acrimony between India and Pakistan.

Mehbooba said she is pained to see a common citizen of the State is the ultimate victim of this scene of uncertainty, violence and acrimony.

Appealing the youth to desist from going on the path of violence, the chief minister said the world is witness to the fact that violence has not resolved any issues rather it gives birth to many more. Resorting to more violence, she reminded, leads to a response which ultimately leaves behind scars only.