India ready for bilateral talks, says PM

Mukhtar Ahmed in Srinagar

Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Thursday reiterated India's readiness to respond constructively to any positive offer of bilateral talks.

Addressing troops after he dedicated the 480 mw Uri hydroelectric power project to the nation, Deve Gowda said that improvement of "bilateral relations with the neighbours was of paramount importance to the country."

The prime minister said that over the years the country's relations with China had been marked with renewed confidence-building between the two countries. In the recent past, he said, the government has initiated steps to improve and develop close relations with other neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

"It is heartening to note that the governments of these countries have responded positively in curbing anti-India activities on their soil," he said.

The prime minister said that there had been developments in the international and regional security scenario in the past several years which had resulted in unwarranted arms acquisition by some countries in the region. India, he said, has consistently voiced its serious concern about the same. He said that government was closely monitoring developments and meeting the challenges posed to the national security.

Reaffirming his government's policy to eschew the path of confrontation, the prime minister assured troops that they would not find themselves handicapped for want of appropriate weaponry in the event of war being thrust on the country. He said the army was fully prepared to meet any challenge and to give a fitting response to the adversary.

He lauded the role of the security forces in its counter-insurgency operations against foreign militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir and guarding the borders including the Siachen glacier where Pakistani troops had been carrying out unprovoked firing. He said that anti-national elements nurtured across the border were still trying to destabilise the newly-elected state government.

On his arrival in Srinagar, the prime minister was received by the state governor, General K V Krishna Rao, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, and other officers. He later flew to Uri in a special helicopter and inaugurated the first unit of the over Rs 30 billion power project. The authorities had made tight security arrangements in Uri, located close to the Line of Actual Control separating Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistani-occupied Kashmir.

Later, addressing a public meeting at Uri, Deve Gowda lauded the patriotism and sacrifices offered by the people of the state to fight enemies. He said the "people of this state are unique as they stood with the country in the fight against its enemies and suffered a lot."

He declared that the power generated from the Uri project would be utilised in Jammu and Kashmir and this would constitute the basic ingredient for speedy growth of the state. The Centre, he said, has already announced a Rs 75 billion package for the state.

Responding to the state chief minister's concern for the 4,000 employees who were engaged in the construction of the Uri project and now face unemployment, the prime minister assured that country would take care of them and they would not be rendered jobless.

Deve Gowda later left for Jammu where the administration had made tight security arrangements.

In the Kashmir valley, a strike called by the separatist All-Parties Hurriyat Conference to protest against the prime minister's visit crippled normal life. Shops, business establishments, government offices, banks, and schools remained closed on Thursday.