Srinagar: Promising that government would intensify sincere efforts to advance the dialogue process, Prime minister A B Vajpayee on August 27 said Centre's doors were open to all those who reject militancy and extreme positions and wish to play constructive role in Jammu and Kashmir.

I assure people and government of J and K that we will give them maximum help in consolidating recent gains.

"We will further intensify our sincere efforts to advance dialogue process," Vajpayee said in his inaugural address at the 8th inter-state council meet.

"Our doors are open to all those who reject militancy and extreme positions and wish to play a constructive role in Jammu and Kashmir forward on the high road of peace and development," he said.

Vajpayee said the people of the state deserved our highest appreciation for showing their faith in democracy by participating in last year's Assembly polls in the face of grave threats.

The elections to the state legislature in October 2002 will go down as one of the finest victories for the ballot in the battle against bullet in world history, he said.

Describing the elections as a mandate for peace, he said it was also a mandate against cross border terrorism, which the people of the state have suffered for over a decade and paid a heavy price.

Referring to the inter-state council meeting which is being held outside Union capital for the first time, Vajpayee said meeting of the country's apex forum of cooperative federalism taking place in Srinagar gives yet another clear message that situation in the state is changing.

It also demonstrates the firm commitment of the Centre and all other states to stand by our brethren in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh areas of the state, he added.

PTI