Holding Panchayat election tantamount to invite trouble: Soz

Srinagar: Former union minister and senior Congress leader, Prof Saif-ud-din Soz on Monday said that holding Panchayat elections is tantamount to inviting trouble, saying that the Government of India should initiate purposeful political dialogue with Hurriyat Conference.
In a statement issued here on Monday Soz said that “those who talk of holding Panchayat Elections are living dangerously in their world of ‘make-belief’ totally cut off with the reality on ground. The mainstream class that is envisaging elections must realize that it is inviting trouble as should they organize election they will be left in the field to face the wrath of the common people.”
“The mainstream parties could better engage in the exercise and reach the families in Kashmir which had suffered bereavement of death and disaster during and after Burhan Wani episode and, at least, try to organize a situation to share the grief!,” he said
“In the meantime, I talked to Mr. Chidambaram this morning and congratulated him for his sustained interest in resolution of the Kashmir Dispute. I further greeted him for his workable suggestions in this connection. I only differed with Chidambaram on the imposition of Governor’s rule in the state as my perception is that even the semblance of civil governance is always better than the Governor’s rule,” he said, adding that “I am sure, the present Governor N.N. Vohra is of the same opinion.”
“I also invited him (Chidambaram) to visit Kashmir and feel the dimensions of response to his proposals to extricate suffering people of Kashmir from the present crisis. He assured me he would try to seek convenient time to visit here,:” Soz added.
“The Union of India would be well advised to realize the necessity of initiating a purposeful political dialogue with the Hurriyat Conference and others to resolve Kashmir dispute without any further loss of time,” senior Congress leader added.