PDP to strengthen democratic institutions to ensure peoples’ participation in decision making: Mufti
Srinagar: Reiterating resolve of his party to set up a new system of justice and equality in Jammu and Kashmir, patron of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today sought support of the every sections of the society to restore sanctity of democratic institutions in the State.
According to a statement issued to KNS, he observed that for the last nearly six years credibility of the democratic institutions was badly eroded in this State due to the misdeeds of the present dispensation. Addressing a function to welcome large number of people from Handwara, Akhnoor and Bishnah areas who joined PDP here today, Mufti regretted that since formation of the government headed by National Conference a systematic move was brazenly launched, by those at the helm of the affairs, to undermine integrity of the institutions which are vital for the growth of any democratic system. He pointed towards various undemocratic steps taken by the present regime to deprive people of Jammu and Kashmir of their democratic rights. Coming down heavily on ruling National Conference for eroding sanctity of democratic institutions in the State, Mufti regretted that it was a historical fact that this party (National Conference) never allowed democracy to flourish in Jammu and Kashmir. “It is result of the deceit tactics of National Conference that unlike other parts of the country, people of Jammu and Kashmir never enjoyed real taste of democracy”, he said and mentioned that except sloganeering National Conference has nothing to maintain democratic character of democratic institutions. “To make democracy more vibrant, it is necessary to restore peoples’ faith in the democratic institutions”, he argued and added that as a responsible political party, PDP was committed to strengthen democratic institutions in Jammu and Kashmir. “During our tenure of just three years, PDP had proved how to utilize such democratic institutions to ensure participation of common masses in the decision making process”, he reminded, adding, “three year is a very short period but PDP during its tenure had set an example of accountable, democratic and transparent system of governance”.
Mufti said that PDP led regime had institutionalized development and recruitment process to ensure that every individual would get equal opportunity of growth and upliftment. “With its assiduous efforts the PDP had restored peoples’ faith in the democracy but the present government headed by NC has undermined democratic institutions”, he said and regretted that authoritarian attitude adopted by the coalition regime has badly shattered peoples’ faith in democracy. Listing priorities of his party, Mufti said that eliminating corruption and improving quality and efficiency of the governance in Jammu and Kashmir are focussed areas of PDP. “Apart from political uncertainty, Jammu and Kashmir State is also suffering from crises of governance during the last nearly six years”, he said while pointing towards failure of the present regime on all fronts. He added that PDP, during its tenure, had proved how to provide good governance to the people by improving quality and capacity to deliver. Pointing towards joining of large number of people including some prominent persons, Mufti said there is a widespread public recognition of the fact that the credible leadership and pro-people agenda of PDP had positively transformed the State’s political, economic and developmental landscape after 2002. “People have realized that only PDP has vision to address grievances of all sections of the society”, he said. Prominent among those who joined PDP included FC Bhagat, who retired as Deputy Commissioner, advocate Abdul Rashid, adv Tahir Qadri, adv Nadeem Majid, Sheikh Parveez Ahmed, Nadeem Nazir, Nazir Ahmed Mir, Iryn Dar, Nazir Ahmed Dar, Dev Raj Bhagat, Dr Vishal Sapolia, Madan Lal Pargawalia, Bua Ditta and others. Abdul Haq MLA, G M Sofi, G N Panditpuri, Fayaz Ahmed Mir, Wahid Parra, Mohammad Shafi Dar, Mohammad Amin, Ghulam Mohammad Mir, Choudhary Hamid, Chatter Singh Saini, Satpal Charak, Thakur Suram Singh, Vikram Singh, Suman Sharma, Rashpal Singh Bittu, Chaman Manyal, Rehmat Khan, Daljeet Manyal and others were present on the occasion.