‘Common approach to resolution emerging’
Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has said a common approach was emerging to the resolution of Kashmir issue which could prove vital to the efforts at ending the 67 year long conflict.
Welcoming the initiative taken by the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to address the people of India in an open letter published in media, Mufti said it could prove a big step forward which has the potential of being the basis of a major political initiative.
In a brief chat with media here today on the occasion of PDP Lok Sabha candidate Tariq Hameed Karra’s filing of nomination papers Mufti said his party endorses and supports the sentiment and the substance of the Mirwaiz’s letter, which can prove to be a historic document if responded appropriately by the national level leadership.
Mufti said PDP believes that peace and resolution process based on dialogue will have to be inclusive of all political formations, including the Hurriyat. “Our manifesto states that involving Hurriyat will increase the legitimacy of the resolution process and widen its acceptability”, he said.
The PDP patron said that he was very happy to see that the position of the Hurriyat and the proposals that have been made are very similar to that discussed in PDP’s manifesto for the parliamentary elections that was released last month.
Pertinently, in the letter Mirwaiz has suggested that, “The good intentions of your prime ministers aside, we regret that the peace initiatives proved to be too fragile and the process too vulnerable”. He goes on to say that, “In order to resolve the Kashmir issue, your elected prime ministers need the consistent support of the opposition parties and they also need active support from all of you – the people of India.”
The PDP manifesto, Mufti said also states the same: “All the political and economic initiatives have been led by the leadership at individual level; be it the P V Narasimha Rao’s “sky is the limit for autonomy”, or Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s “insaniyat kay dairay main” or Manmohan Singh’s “making borders irrelevant”. All these well-meaning initiatives need to be institutionalized for them to have an impact on the ground. Unless these approaches, which are broadly similar, get sanctified and authorized by the Parliament, there cannot be any headway as far as the resolution is concerned”. Indeed, as stated by the Mirwaiz, our manifesto states that “finding a resolution in J&K is not only the Government’s responsibility”.
Mufti said PDP believes that the opposition and other political parties have an equal responsibility and stake in the well-being of J&K.
Meanwhile, Tariq Hameed Karra, the party’s candidate for Srinagar parliamentary constituency filed his nomination papers before the returning officer in the afternoon. Besides Mufti he was accompanied by senior party leaders from the constituency including Qazi Mohammad Afzal, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, Mohammad Ashraf Mir MLC, Mohammad Shafi Wani MLA, Saifudin Bhat, Ms Asiea Naqash, Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Nisar Ahmad Mandoo, Ab Rouf Bhat, Dr Ali MOhd Wani, Haji Parvez Ahmad, Ab Rahim Kuchai, Mudasir Ahmad Khan, Nazir Ahamd Yatoo and others.
A large number of workers followed the candidate and other leaders and later drove through the city up to Hazratbal, where Karra addressed a gathering.