JAMMU: Terming restoration of peace in Jammu and Kashmir as the "biggest challenge" for the state, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today appealed the people to maintain communal harmony.
"I want to say that maintain brotherhood because the biggest challenge faced by Jammu and Kashmir is how to restore peace. You will say that everything is fine here (Jammu) but in Kashmir there is firing and strikes," she said after laying the foundation stone of a multi-tier parking lot here.
She said that her government has been working hard to provide good governance and ensure there are no human rights violation.
"Here Hindu, Muslims have been living together for so many centuries but when some anti-social elements who exist in every community, try to divert us, we indulge in communal fights," Mehbooba said.
Praising the secular nature of Jammu region, she said the city has given shelter to thousands of Kashmiri migrants.
"I need not remind you how secular the people of Jammu are. You gave shelter to thousands of Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims who left the Valley and settled here," she said.
Talking about her meeting with RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, Mehbooba said that she had requested him to open more branches of nationalized banks in far off areas of the Valley so that the youth get employability.
She also discussed about introduction of a banking system in the cross LoC trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The Chief Minister said that she has a proposal to develop Suchetgarh International Border (IB) on the patterns of Wagah Border so that "people from across the country could come and view parade there".
Underlining her late father and former CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's vision to make Jammu an independent tourist destination, she said, "my father had a dream and he did not want Jammu to suffer the fate of Pathankot.
"He wanted Jammu to become an independent destination. He had a dream and a vision for Jammu and I assure you that his dream would be taken forward," she said.