Nainital: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said that he was prepared to discuss all issues, including the question of autonomy and self-rule, with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
"We are willing to discuss all issues with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, including relations between the Centre and the state," he said at a joint press conference with Congress President Sonia Gandhi at the conclusion of a two-day conclave of Congress Chief Ministers in Nainital.
He was asked for his comment on the reported statement of former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah that the state should be granted autonomy and that of his successor Mufti Mohammed Sayeed advocating self-rule for the state.
Earlier, in his concluding remarks at the Chief Ministers' conclave, Singh said the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir had special problems. Terrorism and insurgency had to be handled properly and effectively.
Development strategies had to be formulated taking into account the special problems of the two regions.
"We need to continue talking to all groups so as to promote peace and provide a life of dignity to people of these regions. These regions have immense potential, be it in agriculture, or in power, or in trade and industry," he said.
The Prime Minister said a safe and secure environment ought to be created in the two regions so that their true potential could be tapped.
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