Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said his government was trying to evolve a consensus on major issues and asked people to give it more time to put things on right track.

"The coalition government does not have a magic lamp to change the system overnight. It should be given time to put things on right track," Sayeed told a public meeting at Kathua, some 88 km from Jammu, on March 8 evening.

The government was trying to evolve a consensus on major issues within and outside the state, he said, adding it needed more time to prove that it was honestly working for betterment of the people.

On Opposition criticism of his government on issues like Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), the Chief Minister said the ground situation had improved despite his government not resorting to the use of the measure.

"We do not wish to claim that everything has been set right, but the fact remains that things are looking up as people's pressure is mounting on us to deliver more and more," he said.

"My government's endeavour is to put off the internal fire that has taken a heavy toll of our people."

Exuding confidence to change the system, the Chief Minister said the task was Herculean but not insurmountable.

"While there is no option but to go in for devolution of powers at different levels, performance and accountability will be the hallmark of our strategy to revamp and revitalise the administrative apparatus," he said.

PTI