Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday claimed that both India and Pakistan had come closer to resolving the Kashmir issue when Manmohan Singh was the prime minister.
Abdullah said Singh had practically initiated measures for the return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
The chief minister was making obituary references to Singh and four other former legislators on the first day of the Budget Session of the J&K Assembly.
"He did not make this initiative but inherited it as the start was made by Vajpayee and (then Pakistan president Gen Pervez) Musharraf. He would have stopped the initiative after taking over as the prime minister (in 2004), but he was well aware that the initiative taken by Vajpayee was a big responsibility to carry forward," Abdullah said.
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The National Conference leader further noted that Singh set up working groups to heal the wounds when the situation deteriorated in 2010.
"May I say that both the countries have come closer to resolving this (Kashmir) problem during that period and I do not see a return to the situation in my lifetime," Abdullah said.
Referring to the Kashmiri pandits, Abdullah said Singh had taken some practical steps, like job reservation, for the community.
Singh-led government also provided relief to Pandits by setting up Jagti township in Jammu for the community members who were living in tents, Abdullah said.
The chief minister also recalled contributions towards making India an economic power by introducing reforms.
The Assembly observed a two-minute silence to pay tributes to the former prime minister.
