India-controlled Kashmir Chief Minister urges New Delhi to resolve Kashmir issue

Indian-controlled Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday urged New Delhi to resolve Kashmir issue politically and said he would provide full support and cooperation in this regard.

"Kashmir is political problem and not a financial issue. Therefore, the issue needs to be resolved politically," said Omar Abdullah while addressing a public rally in presence of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Wanpoh, Anantnag, 52 km south of Srinagar.

Abdullah said people in the region have witnessed death and destruction during the last two decades.

"The situation deteriorated because of the gun in Jammu and Kashmir. Now if we want peace, we have to resolve the issue. We have to wipe out the tears from the eyes of our people and nurse their wounds," Abdullah said.

Prime Minister Singh Wednesday visited the region to inaugurate a 12-km railway link at Wanpoh Anantnag.

Singh was accompanied by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Indian Railways Minister Mamta Banerjee and other top Indian dignitaries.

The known pro-Indian politicians of India-controlled Kashmir were also present during the ceremony.

Security in Indian-controlled Kashmir was beefed up Tuesday in view of Singh's two-day visit to the region.

Normal life in Muslim majority areas of the region remained affected due to a strike called by separatists to protest the visit.

The shops, government offices, banks and business establishments in most towns including Srinagar city, remained closed in response to Wednesday's shutdown call.

Traffic was also off the roads and Indian police and paramilitary troopers were seen patrolling the closed markets of Srinagar and Anantnag.

Source: Xinhua