Jammu: Dismissing criticism of his healing touch policy as sheer propaganda, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on April 3 said wiping out tears of families of victims of militancy was the true meaning of this policy.

"Giving jobs to those whose kins were killed by militants is our healing touch," he told a public meeting in Doda after handing over appointment letters to 140 kins of victims of insurgency.

Reaching out to unfortunate victims and helping them stand on their own feet is what the healing touch policy was all about, Sayeed said.

"I have been receiving telephone calls from different parts of the country asking me not to give up this policy," he said slamming detractors of the policy.

"A favourable climate is now building up in the country towards our multi-pronged strategy to restore peace in the violence-hit Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

On allegations that his government was soft towards ultras, the Chief Minister asked, "What we have done that indicates our softness towards militants."

"We are not soft but firm in our determination to deal with the situation as per our well-conceived strategy."

Sayeed said, "Vested interests within and across the border are attempting to sabotage our efforts, but this will not weaken our determination to bring normalcy in the state."

He said attempts were being made to derail the peace process and cited the recent massacre of 24 Kashmiri Pandits in this context.

PTI