Srinagar: The visit of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has raised a lot of hope
among the people of Jammu and Kashmir who feel it will carry forward the good
beginning of successful elections held five months back and look forward to a
financial package from the Centre.
While the members of trader community called for a financial package from the
Centre, people in general who appreciate its support for the Mufti Sayeed
government's healing touch policy, stressed on the need for installing confidence
among the people and resolve the problem through meaningful dialogue with various
sections of the society.
"It is a good initiative. We have lot of hope from Vajpayee's visit. We think that
he will bring some package for the Valley to end the financial crunch. We also want
him to instil confidence among commoners who have suffered a lot due to more than a
decade old militancy," Farooq Ahmad, a trader in the city, told reporters.
Mohd Afjal, a public servant, said, "He is our Prime Minister and we are pinning lot
of hope with his visit. We expect him to extend a hand of support to the downtrodden
and
neglected lot."
Appreciating the healing touch policy of the state government, Afjal, however,
stressed on a balanced approach while implementing the policy.
PTI
