Need to regain lost trust in Kashmir: J&K Guv

Jammu: Batting for regaining the lost trust and negating the misgivings in certain sections in Jammu and Kashmir, Governor N N Vohra on Tuesday said the state government sees 2018 as a year of opportunities and a period for fully exploiting all possible openings and opportunities.

He also called for tough and targeted actions by the security forces to ensure that the arc of violence does not spread from the fringes to the mainstream, to disrupt the lives in the valley yet again.

"We shall need to regain the lost trust and negate the misgivings in certain sections of our society (in Kashmir)," he said in his address to the joint session of the legislature here on Tuesday.

The budget session began on a stormy note as the Opposition staged a walkout during Vohra's address to protest alleging failure of the PDP-BJP government on all fronts particularly security.

"The subsequent appointment by the Union government of a special representative to hold talks with the people belonging to all shades of opinion is recognition of the concern for widening the constituency of peace, to include even those who may have contrary ideological convictions," Vohra said.

The governor hoped that 2018 will prove to be a year of opportunities on several fronts.

"Government firmly believes that the elected and the electorate have equal stakes in the peace process and, together, they will have to rise against those who choose violence to disrupt the established order," he said. The governor further said "such challenges will be met through dialogue, which is the best means of resolving all disagreements".

He said the government appeals to all those who had earlier refused to be part of the peace process to come forward and accept the special representative for Kashmir's offer for engaging in dialogue.

Vohra batted strongly for tough and targeted action by security forces in check violence.

"Government remains committed to taking all possible steps for building on the peace dividend and also remains equally determined to ensure that the arc of violence does not spread from the fringes to the mainstream, to yet again disrupt our lives. This will require tough and targeted actions by our security forces," he said.

"For the past several months our security forces have been successfully carrying out targeted counter terrorist operations. While they shall engage in such operations whenever it is necessary to do so, it is hoped that these shall involve the least possible collateral damage to the lives and properties of innocent persons," he said.

He also hailed the role of the brave hearts of Army, Central Armed Police Forces and the J&K Police who have been operating in the most difficult circumstances and laying down their lives in the fight against terror and violence.