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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday defended his proposal of a new surrender policy for the militants in PoK and said pragmatic initiatives were required to ensure economic rehabilitation of the ultras and prevent misuse of the measure.
The state government had considered all pros and cons of the idea to avoid its misuse, Abdullah told a press conference in Jammu.
His comments came in the backdrop of Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad expressing fears that the initiative might end up as another way of infiltration.
Justifying his demand for the policy during the CMs' meet in New Delhi, Abdullah said: "A pragmatic policy to this effect is the need of the hour. The state government had proposed it after taking into consideration all pros and cons so that it is not misused at any level".
He said the Centre and the state governments should work out the policy in a manner without hampering the national interests at any level but pave way for the militants to return to normal life.
"We have to tackle this problem in a befitting manner by providing fool-proof surrender and rehabilitation policy for the militants. Economic rehabilitation of surrendered militants will be part of this policy."
"Once you have a policy, then they will come forward and return to normal life", Abdullah said.
About Azad's statement, he said, "This is a proposal being taken up between the state government and the Union Home ministry and not between the government and (Union) Health ministry."