KL Report
SRINAGAR
Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram Tuesday expressed his displeasure on the lack of forward movement on the various initiatives he has taken when he was union home minister.
While speaking on the platinum jubilee function of state’s only listed company Jammu and Kashmir Bank at SKICC, Chidambaram regretted the way things unfolded after his change of portfolio.
“I regret the initiatives we have taken were not formalized,” he told the gathering.
Chidambaram told the gathering that he along with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had took various initiatives about the suitable amendments in Armed Forces Special Powers Act(AFSPA), which he said did not materialize because few colleagues were not convinced.
“We worked to have suitable amendments in AFSPA, but could not convince our few colleagues. That why the change did not occur,” he said. Not giving hope, he reiterated that work is in progress.
Chidambaram was all praise for Omar Abdullah and said that there is marked difference on the ground and expresses satisfaction the way Omar is handling the sensitive state. He further said that he along with Omar has brought some kind of passion in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I won’t say that we two can solve the problem, but surely we had brought passion in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Like most of the visiting dignitaries, Chidambaram also expressed his love for Kashmir.
“I am in love with this place and keen to see this prosperous and peaceful.”
While talking about the visit of all party delegation and report of interlocutors on Kashmir, Chidambaram said that the lack of forward movement in this direction is disappointing. “I am disappointed that neither recommendations nor report were forwarded and formalized,” he told the gathering.
Regarding withdrawal of troops, he said that the move was among his initiatives as Union Home minister and in this regard step was taken, but gain he said the movement could not take off.
He expressed hope that State government under the leadership of Omar Abdullah is working hard for restoration of peace and according to him there is visible change on the ground. Chidambaram did not spoke to media on the occasion.
