Mufti’s vision alone can address J&K, Indo-Pak situations: Mehbooba Mufti

Says PDP a platform for J&K people to ensure accountable political system

Jammu: People Democratic Party President, and Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today said the emerging scenario in Jammu & Kashmir and the subcontinent can be addressed best by executing and following the vision of late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed. She said her party’s agenda has always been dialogue and discourse and not war mongering.

Addressing a meeting of party’s District and Zonal president’s of Jammu province here today, Mehbooba Mufti said the situation of past few months in the State and the consequent acrimonious relations between India-Pakistan demand that the political philosophy and vision of the late leader about Jammu & Kashmir and Indo-Pak relations is forthwith implemented and executed.

She reminded the delegates that eversince the party was formed in 1999 it has always stood for dialogue, peace and harmonious relations been India and Pakistan adding wars have nowhere in the present world solved any problems, rather compounded them only. She said the problems being faced by the people of border areas in the State also underscore the need for pushing for dialogue to resolve issues and maintain peaceful relations.

Terming the formation of PDP as a boon for the people of the State, Mehbooba Mufti said the objective with late Mufti sahib then was to provide J&K people a platform from where they could express themselves freely. She said democracy in J&K couldn’t flourish earlier as people did not have such a platform which resulted in countless miseries to them. She said late Mufti sahib considered this as his big achievement and would often say that alternatives in democracy result into an accountable political system.

Terming the party as a sacred trust of the late leader, Mehbooba Mufti exhorted upon the functionaries to strengthen the party at grassroots to let the state’s people reap the benefits of this political platform. She asked them to further strengthen their relations with the party which late Mufti sahib had built.  

 Asking party workers to emulate the principles of late Mufti sahib in their political activities, Mehbooba Mufti said interests of Jammu & Kashmir and its people were always paramount to the late leader than the comforts of power or personal life. She said the late leader took a very difficult but bold decision to join hands with BJP for formin a government only to serve the best interests of Jammu & Kashmir and pursue his agenda of dialogue and development which could not be pursued after he had left office in 2005. “He could have formed Government otherwise also but chose a difficult path for himself just to ease the State’s people of their difficulties”, she added.

Asking the workers to take forward the party’s political and development agenda among people, Mehbooba Mufti asked them to ensure participation of more and more people in the party’s mission. She said the alliance with BJP was stitched on the basis of a common minimum programme which was formulated after months of deliberations.

Complimenting people of Jammu for maintaining peace despite provocations, the Chief Minister said the people of the province, including Chenab and Pir Panchal vallies, showed maturity and wit and defeated nefarious designs of divisive forces. She said all the road connectivity projects would be taken up to improve inter-people and inter-region connectivity.

Mehbooba Mufti asked the functionaries to seek more and more involvement of women in the policies and programmes of the party adding the Government has taken many big steps for their welfare and empowerment including setting up of police stations, buses, scooty scheme, ladli beti scheme etc.Earlier in his address, senior vice president, S. Rangeel Singh hailed the Chief Minister for the determination and wisdom in dealing with the situation in the state and assured her that entire party cadre was behind her like a dedicated soldier. He also stressed on expansion of the party network in the Jammu province.In his address, General Secretary, Muhammad Sartaj Madni said the PDP is the political legacy of late Mufti sahib and exhorted upon the workers to work for the party in mission mode, unitedly and dedicatedly.

General Secretary, Mehboob Iqbal also addressed the meeting.

Earlier, Mehbooba Mufti sought feedback from each functionary individually about their respective areas.