Srinagar: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today asked party leaders to work hard for the restoration of peace and reach out to the people, admitting that she was in a difficult situation. She said this while talking to the party leaders who met here for the first time since the unrest began in Kashmir following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8. “I am in a difficult situation, but people who have great expectations from the PDP should trust me,” a senior party leader quoted the Chief Minister as having said during the meeting. “The party agenda and its mission is dear to me. Power is only meant to meet the end and the objective. I have lived with people, struggled along with them, so they are dear to me. They have expectations (from me) and should trust me. I am in a difficulty but we will certainly overcome it. And I promise to people that I will not let them down,” she was quoted by the leader. She asked the party legislators and leaders to work again for improving the ground situation for creating a congenial atmosphere in J&K to rebuild the peace and reconciliation process. “I wish that peace is restored at the earliest so that we are able to fulfil the agenda with fidelity,” she was quoted. “We are concerned about the situation. The loss of lives is a great loss. We all have sympathies with those who have suffered. But anything can happen if peace is not restored amid confrontation,” Mehbooba said. The meeting, attended by MPs, legislators and senior party leaders, was held at a time when the party is facing intense protests, especially in its bastion, south Kashmir. Many party leaders have faced attacks over the past two months. Mehbooba said she felt that everything was fine in south Kashmir as she got a convincing win during the elections. South Kashmir’s four districts have been the epicentre of the unrest as a majority of the civilian killings took place in these areas. “I got a convincing victory from south Kashmir. I felt that everything is fine, but it changed overnight. We have to improve the situation, which is important for the peace process. In 2002, Kashmir atmosphere was good. Only then we could do other things,” she told the party leaders who huddled together on how to play a role in normalising the situation that has crippled the region. “We have to again work to improve the situation.” Mehbooba, who is also the president of the Peoples Democratic Party, said there would have been visible progress on the Common Minimum Programme, but due to the disturbances it could not be achieved. The other party leaders who spoke said nothing against the alliance with the BJP. The party leadership did not discuss anything on party founder Tariq Karra’s resignation. However, an MLA without naming Karra said that some people come and go and it makes no difference. Party MP and senior leader Muzaffar Baig said soon after Mehbooba took over, there was sudden “upsurge which spread to rural areas” and “she has shown enough wisdom and patience to deal with such a kind of grave situation”.
Tribune News Service