Srinagar: Describing Prophet Mohammad as a man of peace, President A P J Abdul Kalam on June 28 prayed for return of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir at the Hazratbal shrine on the banks of Dal Lake.

"Islam is a religion of peace...Prophet Mohammad also preached peace in the world. Let the peace come to all of us. When peace comes, people in Jammu and Kashmir will have happiness", he said in his speech at the shrine after having a glimpse of the holy relic of the Prophet of Islam.

Quoting verses from holy Quran, the President stressed on the secular aspects of Islam. "What you do you are responsible for it, what I do I am responsible for it", he said. Kalam recited another verse from Quran citing oneness of God.

He said India had a great tradition of peace-lovers from Ashoka the Great onwards and hoped that peace and development would return to the trouble-torn state. Kalam said Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had promised to convert the most revered shrine of the state into a full-fledged heritage centre. The shrine is at present managed by Muslim Auqaf Trust, headed by former chief minister Farooq Abdullah.

"When I entered the Hazratbal shrine, I got inspired ... I got divine feelings, the President said. Earlier, Kalam, who arrived at the shrine via Dal Lake, was given a warm reception by the management of the Trust. He was presented a 'Karakul' cap, a shawl and an artists impression of the shrine.

Welcoming the President, the Imam of the shrine Bashir Ahmad Farooqi hoped he would lead the country to development and resolve the Babri Masjid issue. "We hope under his leadership the minorities are protected, Babri Masjid will be resolved and lasting peace will return to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh", he added.

Kalam, who arrived at the shrine in a motorlaunch, was accompanied by Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha and Sayeed. The security personnel deployed for the President's engagement were in for a surprise when Kalam decided at the last moment to meet the people instead of embanking on the secured enclosure.

Later, Kalam agreed to Sayeed's request to visit the nearby Kashmir University but had to put it off due to security reasons that disappointed the crowd, which wanted to air their grievances to the President. "I raised my hands as I wanted to convey to him the problem of power in this area", shouted an old man.

Tight security arrangements were made for Kalam's visit to the shrine that witnessed one of the longest siege in 1993 with over a dozen militants holed up it in.

PTI