Srinagar, September 01(Scoop News)- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti Sundaysaid that the party’s roadmap for the resolution of Jammu & Kashmir issue, under the leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, was clear, practicable and achievable in the present geo-political scenario.
Addressing a public meeting at Kilam in Devsar constituency, she said the action in this regard was, in fact, started in 2002 itself, even the party having only 16 members in the legislative assembly, and it is under implementation. If the party gets a decisive mandate, it will carry forward its policies and agenda for resolution, reconciliation and reconstruction with the help of people only and hopefully leaving no role for discredited politicians who enriched themselves for decades over miseries of people. She said it is PDP’s vision to get the state out of this morass without indulging in hoax slogans and blood-bath. The party stands for what is practically possible without emotionally black mailing people with the lofty promises of plebiscite and autonomy which were ultimately sold out for power. To bring Jammu & Kashmir out of the uncertainty and resultant darkness that has engulfed it for the last 65 years was the party’s core agenda, and we had attempted this during our brief tenure in the government and achieved a breakthrough, she said and added this process will be carried forward with support from people.
Mehbooba said any headway in Jammu and Kashmir issue is impossible without people being fully empowered; who have faced the maximum brunt of tumultuous times and of the present repressive regime, and PDP believes it is possible to do in an environment, where there is no fear, threat to life and unnecessary intimidation from the state. Urging people to make it a point that they elect the politicians based on their performance only, she said, in the given circumstances, it is necessary to do to pave a way for the honorable resolution of political problem. She said a decisive mandate will provide legitimacy to the party’s resolution efforts.
Mehbooba said PDP will usher in a new era of peace, prosperity and development in the state and will pick up the threads again, from where it left, when it had catalysed the process of reconciliation within the state and between India and Pakistan. She said failure of the present government has squeezed space of dignity for all section of society, and all the positive initiatives taken by the previous government have been reversed and the atmosphere of hope that was generated, in the state, has disappeared. She said creating an atmosphere conducive to the resolution had been made in 2003 with the memorable Atal Bihari Vajpayee visit. His ( Vajpaiee’s) statement was historical in its nature as no less than PM of India declared among thousands of people that Kashmir issue is to be resolved within the ambit of humanity. “Inspite of the forces, from both countries having been in a combat position, hand of friendship was extended to Pakistan from the soil of Kashmir,” she said adding the opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was a historical Confidence Building Measure (CBM) and start for resolution of Kashmir issue. And, two rounds of unconditional talks, between separatists and then deputy prime minister L K Advani, were initiated during that time. Restoring sense of security, transparency in the system and good governance were the hallmark of PDP govt, she added.
Mehbooba said National Conference’s thinking is clouded by the fact that they measure every other party by their own standards of hypocrisy and duality. This party (NC) had publicly made fun of the PDP, when in 2004, the idea of opening up of LoC for travel and trade with Srinagar-Muzzafarbad road, was introduced, through banners and hoardings. However, what NC had described as a pipe dream was realized only in less than one year, with the introduction of cross-LoC ‘Karvan-e-Amn’ and followed up with the opening of Poonch-Rawalalot road. By contrast NC has been unable to have implemented any of its promises throughout its history and is, therefore, trying to trivialize serious issues like resolution of J&K problem and governance through meaningless statements.
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