Srinagar: Inviting Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister and PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) leader, Muzaffar Hussain Baig today (Jan 26, 2004) hailed the recent peace initiatives to improve ties with Pakistan saying Vajpayee's popularity among Kashmiris is unmatched.

"I am too small a person to request the Prime Minister to contest elections from Kashmir. I hope he will consider the request. I don't think any party will put up a candidate against him," Baig said unfurling the tricolour at Republic Day function.

"Vajpayee's popularity among Kashmiris is unmatched for his bold initiatives to improve relations with Pakistan and hold talks with separatist Kashmiri leaders to give peace a chance," he said.

Describing the recent Centre-Hurriyat talks as a good beginning, Baig hoped other separatist leaders would also join the dialogue process, which was the only way to resolve the Kashmir issue.

Without naming breakaway Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, JKLF (Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front) chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Ahmad Shah, the Minister said he was confident that they would soon realise that dialogue was the only was to solve the problem.

He said, "All of us (politicians and separatists) should work towards restoration of peace in the State."