Kashmir Resolution PDP’s Core Agenda: Mufti

Power only issue of concern for NC: Mehbooba

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Sunday said that settlement of Kashmir issue is the core of his party’s political agenda and they would strive hard to pursue its policies and  programmes in this regard by taking all the relevant stake holders on board.

Addressing a function on the 14th foundation day of the party at party’s headquarter in Srinagar, Mufti said the issue of J&K can be resolved only by addressing it and any attempt at pushing it under the carpet was bound to fail. “My sole aim in life is to bring J&K out of uncertainty and the resultant darkness that has engulfed it for the last 65 years,” he said. 

Seeking a decisive mandate for his party Mufti said it would provide legitimacy to his resolution efforts. “I have no hesitation in promising a dignified solution to this vexed problem if the people repose their faith in my party,” Mufti said and added that very positive beginning in creating an atmosphere conducive to resolution had been made in 2003 with the watershed Vajpayee visit.

He said for arriving at a resolution we have to create an internal atmosphere of trust and having an external environment of understanding between India and Pakistan is essential. “During our brief tenure we had attempted this and achieved a breakthrough. This process needs to be carried forward and the PDP would pick up the threads again with the support of people.”

Mufti claimed PDP had emerged as a credible voice of J&K and even though it hopes to receive a decisive mandate we will create an inclusive atmosphere to take very stake holder on board. “We don’t claim to have monopoly on all wisdom, popularity or representation but we will seek every body’s help in arriving at a just and practical solution of the Kashmir issue,” he said.

The PDP patron said though governance is important and PDP has proved that a transparent and responsive system can make difference in the lives of people but J&K has a strong political aspect which can’t be ignored. “Though under the previous coalition lots of progress was made on political and developmental fronts but it needed a small spark to look all those efforts a waste when Ammarnath agitation engulfed the entire state,” he said.

He said PDP’s fight is not against any party or individual but it wants to establish a true and all inclusive democratic set up in the state where each citizen can live with dignity and honour. He said peoples’ power has legitimacy in any democratic set up and cannot be ignored or taken for granted for mere individual considerations. He also said that the trust deficit prevailing between valley and rest of the country was not because of the people of Kashmir but it is result of the wrong policies and shifting stands of the leaders whom people have been choosing for long. “PDP during its brief tenure acted as a bridge to minimise the gaps.”

Mufti while stressing the need for peace in the valley said that there is deep urge for peace among the people and the same needs to be channelized in a proper way and PDP with the help of peoples’ mandate would strive hard to usher in a new era of peace and development in the state. He said that PDP during its rule stood with its strong principles and tried to come up to the expectations of people by fulfilling almost all promises made in the election manifesto in 2002.  Joining of intellectuals, thinkers, and people from different walks of life in PDP strongly reflects the growing faith and acceptability of the party among the masses, and that is party’s biggest achievement in itself, Mufti said.

Complementing the officers and officials of the state administration Mufti said it was because of their efficiency and hard work that they could get huge funding from the centre for various developmental activities. “The misgovernance, unaccountability and chaos prevailing in the state is because of inefficiency of the rulers,” he said PDP during its brief time in the government was able to streamline the work culture in the administration which gave relief to the people who had been facing tough times over the years. 

Taking over of Auqaf by the government was historic in nature as it paved the way for us to develop two universities at Rajouri and Awantipora which have now become epicentre of higher education and most sought after institutions in the state. Mufti said that PDP has a vision for the overall peace and development of the state and if given decisive mandate by the people would be able to change the destiny of the state.

He said the PDP with the help of the large reservoir of thinkers and planners is devising a practical road map for addressing problems of unemployment and power deficit in the state. He said these issues are of prime importance to us and the youth need to be liberated from fear and unemployment and provided with dignified avenues of growth. “Human resource development, power generation and return of our assets will constitute the core of our development policy, Mufti said.

Speaking on the occasion party president Mehbooba Mufti termed Srinagar as the face of J&K and alleged it had always been the victim of political exploitation by the National Conference but PDP led government took some historical steps to bring back the capital city’s lost glory.

“The beautification of Indira Gandhi road four laning of bye pass, ADB funding in core infrastructure development and development of banks of Jhelum River and other major infrastructural projects helped a great deal to give the city a new face lift,” she said is a proud movement for all that PDP has become the best alternative to the people of J&K given the fact that NC has never allowed the democracy to flourish here.

“They (NC) have been always misleading the people of state on emotional issues with its hollow slogans but never achieved anything substantial. Srinagar is now a district with lowest plan allocations in the entire state and in spite of having all the 8 MLAs and MP from the ruling party besides the chief minister, the capital city looked orphaned,” she said NC’s description of accession as conditional revolves round only one condition; that it should be in power. “Once out of power Kashmir for this party becomes disputed” she said.

“PDP during its time in government helped in a great deal to get the state out of darkness and morass but the present rulers because of their in efficiency and incompetence have thrown the state again into dark ages where human life have lost all the meaning and peoples dignity and respect is again at stake. The opening of Muzaffarabad and Mugal roads turned out to be historical development in the history of J&K,” she said and added opening of all other historical routes was fundamental for the development and stability of the region.

She said issues are solved with love and compassion but not with force which has become the trade mark of the present government. “Rampant corruption, mis-governance and lack of transparency in the system have thrown people again to the wall and given rise to pessimism,” she said people who have no qualms in selling the natural resources and interests of the state, how come they talk of autonomy in this scenario.

Mehbooba also appealed the people of Budgam to maintain peace and calm in the area and not to allow the vested interests into their ranks who are hell-bent to damage the age old harmony, brotherhood and amity. She alleged NC has at different times divided people on different issues and now it has picked up Shia-Sunni issue to divert attention from its colossal failures, human rights violations, rampant corruption and disastrous governance.

Dilwar Mir, Tariq Hamid Karra, Dr Mohammad Shafi, Naeem Akthar, Altaf Bukhari, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Dr Sameer Koul Saifuddin Bhat, Nazir Yatoo, Abdul Hamid Kasin, Kurshid Alam, Anjum Qadri, Muntazar Mohiuddin, Ashia Naqash, A R Kucchay, Irfan Naqashbandi, Rouf Ahmad, Firdos Ahmad, Adil Jan, Abdul Hamid Garu, Showkat Hafiz, Abul Hassan, Ab Qyoom Showkat Gayoor, Zonal Presidents, Block Presidents of Srinagar and Budgam were present on the occasion.

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