By SUNIL Sonkar

New Delhi, August 10 — An early elections have been called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir, stressing the reinvigorating peaceful political activity ‘s need in the valley for enhancing popular participation in governance.

Dr. Singh said in his Urdu televised speech, “I believe that local body elections should be held early to increase peoples’ participation in democratic governance and to ensure political empowerment at the grassroots level.”

This is the first time a statement been given by the PM for J&K after the clashes in the valley, which broke on June 11, killing fifty people.

Dr. Singh called this election to be a new begining and said the centre has been very supportive of the state government’s efforts of renewing contact with the locals.

He added, “I believe that all of you have the solemn duty of reaching out to the people and reinvigorating peaceful political activity on the ground, which is lacking today.”

PM, in his speech, even called for activating youth wings of the political parties in the valley.