Politics

Centre can take up Kashmir issue with Hurriyat: Farooq Abdullah

Farooq Abdullah

Kolkata | National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has said that lasting peace can be achieved in Kashmir only through dialogue and the Centre should hold talks with the Hurriyat leaders.

Referring to Army chief Bipin Rawat’s comment a day earlier on engaging with Taliban without any preconditions, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister on Thursday said if the Army could suggest it, then the Centre should also talk with the Hurriyat leaders to solve the Kashmir issue.

Speaking at a discussion on “J&K The Road Ahead”, organised by the Centre for Peace and Progress here, Abdullah said the leaders of Hurriyat have Indian passports and in the past, leaders such as former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee have held dialogue with them.

“The Army and use of force can never be a solution to the Kashmir crisis and lasting peace can be achieved only through dialogue,” he told the gathering which included retired senior army officers and academicians from the city.

Expressing hope that dialogue on the Kashmir issue could start after the Lok Sabha polls, Abdullah said each election has divided the country instead of uniting it.

“There is mistrust between Delhi and Kashmir and an atmosphere of hate has been created in the country,” he said.

Rawat had said that at a time when the US and Russia are reaching out to the Taliban in Afghanistan, the terror outfit should be engaged with but talks should be held without any preconditions.

The Army chief’s comments at the Raisina Dialogue, on engaging with Taliban, were the first such public remarks by a senior functionary of the government.

Former Army chief Shankar Roy Chowdhury, taking part in the discussion, raised the issue of resignation of Shah Faesal, an IAS officer who topped the civil services examination in 2009.

“We are shocked to hear about his resignation. He should not have resigned,” Roy Chowdhury said.

“One positive thing that has surfaced from Kashmir in the past few years is that youths from the region have joined the Army and taken up government jobs in large numbers,” he added.

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CM Bommai Says Govt Will Give Farmer Centric Programs

ANI
CM Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said that the government will give farmer-centric programmes in agriculture in the coming days

Bengaluru (Karnataka): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said that the government will give farmer-centric programs in agriculture in the coming days.

Speaking after inaugurating the Krishi Mela organised by Vijayavani Kannada daily and Digvijay News here on Friday, he said, “farmers are living in uncertainty and programs must be chalked out to bring certainty in them. This will be given due importance in the coming budget.” “There is a scientific system to fix loans for land but the banks don’t follow it. The need of the hour is to bring overall changes for integrated rural agriculture-based farming and for which a new scheme is formulated,” he added.

While talking about the scientific report to hike loan limit, he said, “farmers are facing problems in the distribution of seeds and fertilizers and that will be addressed by formulating a scheme for the small and marginal farmers.”

“Instructions are given to submit a scientific report to hike the loan limit for farmers. After the receipt of the report steps will be taken to hike the loan limit in the budget. In regard to farmers’ crops, a scientific report is required on the basis of the rainfall pattern in the last ten years and that report must be implemented. It will reduce loss to farmers,” he added.

On the launch of Raitha Shakti, He said Rs 500 crore will be transferred through DBT into the bank accounts of farmers on January 31 towards the subsidy for the machinery and diesel.
“The Yashasvini scheme has been relaunched since last year and as many as 36 lakh farmers have registered their names and Rs 300 crore has been released. Instructions are given to make suitable changes in the scheme to suit the present-day medical system,” he added.

Also, Read: Mumbai: Guardian Minister Says Tipu Sultan’s Name Removed From Malad Garden

“This year, 31 lakh farmers are given loans through the cooperative institutions and an additional three lakh farmers will be given loans. A number of thoughts are being translated into programs. Climate change will impact agriculture as well as agri-related research. Both farmers and government must make changes accordingly to face the challenges,” he further stated.

“Climate change and Covid have thrown a big challenge to the world food security. The neighbouring nations are facing severe food shortages but the picture is quite contrary in India where there is food security,” he said.

“The country is in a position to feed 133 crore people due to the hard work of farmers. The life of farmers has not changed and the government must think about it,” he further said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by HW News staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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