PULWAMA: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said India can emerge as a super power only if the countrys leadership makes tangible movement forward in resolving issues with Pakistan including the Kashmir issue.
India can attain the position of super power only if it improves ties with Pakistan by resolving all the unsettled issues including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti said while addressing election rallies in Rajpora, Shopian and Wachi assembly segments to enlist support for the party candidates Dr Haseeb Drabu, Advocate Mohammad Yousuf Bhat and Aijaz Ahmad Mir.
He said Kashmir issue has jeopardized not only political stability in the region, but is hampering progress on economic fronts including enhanced regional cooperation for trade and commerce. If India and Pakistan resolve the issue amicably, it will lead to a momentous turnaround in the regions geopolitical situation, he said.
Mufti made it clear that PDP would act as a fortress to defend the distinct identity of Jammu and Kashmir and wont allow anybody to dilute its special status. Having emerged as the representative voice of the people across the State, PDP would with full might counter the designs of the divisive forces aimed at diluting the special constitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
Mufti said the people of the State now look up to PDP with great hope and expectation for bringing not only peace and stability but safeguarding its politico-economic interests as well. I am today seeking votes not just to form the new government, but to win in the crusade for restoring Jammu and Kashmir to its rightful place, he said and added that with the wholehearted push from the people, we can save the State from the future miseries of the misrule and anarchy which was rampant during the past 6 years.
Expressing satisfaction at the steady growth of PDP, as a platform for change, Mufti said the credit goes to the disciplined, dedicated and ideologically motivated cadres of the party and people living in all the regions of the state. It is because of the uphill struggle of our cadres and the growing public support for our agenda that PDP has emerged as a respectable and formidable voice channelizing aspirations of the people across regions, religions and communities.
Mufti said the agenda of PDP could to a large extent respond to the complex problems of the state, faced as it is with decades long political uncertainty, development deficit, unfulfilled aspirations, mounting unemployment, corruption, nepotism and favoritism. I hope that people would judge my party on the basis of its performance during our brief stint in the government, in opposition and on the basis of the agenda of change that we placed before them, he added.
Expressing gratitude to the emancipated voters of Shopian and Pulwama districts, Mufti said the people of the area have extended unflinching support to the PDP and the party wont let them down if it comes to power. I assure you that Pulwama and Shopian would touch new heights in development for which the foundations have already been laid between 2002 and 2005 with the opening of Mughal Road, setting up of Islamic University at Awantipora and construction of network of roads and fruit mandis and upgradation of healthcare and educational institutions, he said and added that his government had planned to setup an Azadpur type fruit mandi at Shopian and a super-speciality hospital in Pulwama, which would be pursued by the PDP government besides expansion of horticulture and industrial sector in the area with new initiatives.
Mufti said on the development front various landmark initiatives are in the pipeline and the same would be put to implementation once the PDP gets the mandate to form next government in the State. He said given its horticulture and agriculture potential, district Pulwama and Shopian can be developed as a hub of Food Processing industry which now constitutes an important segment of the Indian economy. To create a synergy between industry and agriculture, Mega Food Parks would be established in various parts of the State to make it self-sufficient and leader in processing of perishables and other food products including fruits, he said and added that such initiatives would not only lead to creation of wealth in the State but generate huge employment avenues as well.
Mufti said a new tourist circuit would be created in the area by integrating the twin districts of Shopian and Pulwama with the tourism potential along the Mughal Road, which would be made an all-weather link between Shopian and Rajouri through a tunnel. Besides, he said road connectivity, power, education and social sectors would be the focus areas of hid government.
Addressing the rallies noted economist and PDP candidate for Rajpora constituency, Dr Haseeb Drabu said Jammu and Kashmir is poised to hand-over the baton of governance to the youth, who would bring new blood and fresh energy with them. He said it is with this objective in mind that PDP has given mandate to several young politicians for the upcoming assembly elections so that they can, under the dynamic leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, represent the aspirations and urges of the States youth better.
He said unemployment is the biggest challenge facing the state and job creation will remain thrust area for the next government to be formed by the party under the leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
He said the PDP with a decisive mandate would create a firm resource base for the state to be able to fund its infrastructural development and generation of employment. He said, unfortunately, these resources like water and power have, so far, have been bartered away by successive National Conference governments for the sake of chair.
We would need a decisive mandate and support of the people, especially my young brothers and sisters, to carry forward PDPs pro-people agenda with fresh momentum, he said and added that although three year is a very short period but PDP during its tenure between 2002 and 2005 had set an example of accountable, democratic and transparent system of governance in the State, which would be revived in 2015.
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