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Sheela Bhatt On Board a Delhi-Srinagar Flight
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday called for a "final solution" to the Kashmir issue and reiterated her party's support to the Union government in establishing lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a brief chat with rediff.com on board a Jet Airways New Delhi-Srinagar flight, Sonia said: "If the Centre is really serious about Jammu and Kashmir, which is affecting the lives of innocent people and also our armed forces, it should do something about it now."
She said her party would support any peace initiative on Kashmir. "We are in the opposition, but we have stated time and again that for peace in Kashmir, we will support [any and every] move of the government. We have been supporting the Centre [on this issue] and we will [continue to] support it."
When asked about the on-going elections in the state, she said: "It's encouraging. Despite pressure and threats, people of Kashmir have come out and that too in large numbers [to vote]. Which party they are voting for is immaterial, but they are voting."
Expressing hope that the remaining three phases of election would see bigger voter turnouts, the Congress chief said: "I hope people will come out in the same way, in the same spirit."
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