Separatists will have to participate in dialogue
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 28: Describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the most powerful force in the country, senior People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Minister for Roads and Buildings Naeem Akhtar has categorically stated that political resolution of Kashmir problem is only possible during the tenure of present Governments at the Centre and in Jammu and Kashmir.
In an exclusive interview to EXCELSIOR, Naeem Akhtar said, “we have a strong political bonding with the most powerful force in the country—-the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party.They are enjoying decisive mandate of the people”.
“I am of the opinion that only the present dispensation at the Centre and in Jammu and Kashmir can bring political solution to the Kashmir problem. If this Government cannot do it no other Government will be able to do it”, he said, adding “we (PDP) won’t be able to do anything without their (PM and BJP) support and it was the well considered decision of the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to go in for alliance with the BJP”.
Terming appointment of Special Representative for holding sustained dialogue with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir as a unique initiative of the Prime Minister, the senior PDP leader said, “it is for the first time that there is no opposition to such a step by the Government of India. Rather there is uniform endorsement of the decision of Union Government”.
“Earlier whosoever was appointed for dialogue it raised hackles but this time everybody has welcomed the initiative especially in the light of the fact that this has happened at a time when things are looking normal up to large extent and violence has gone down considerably”, he said.
Lauding the Union Government for taking special care of Jammu and Kashmir, Naeem Akhtar said, “most important aspect is that the Special Representative has been appointed by the President of India with the sole objective of holding sustained dialogue and it will not be subject to any situation like in the past when anger management was the only objective behind similar steps”.
“This indicates that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is determined to resolve the Kashmir issue through sustained dialogue”, he further said while hoping that separatists will understand the seriousness on the part of present Governments at Centre and in State towards bringing political solution to the Kashmir problem.
Responding to a question, he said, “sooner or later they (separatists) will have to come on board and participate in the dialogue process. But, how much time they will take in understanding the seriousness of the State and Central Governments is beyond anybody’s guess”.
Admitting that politically PDP may have to pay the price for aligning with the BJP, he said, “if you look beyond the electoral arithmetic nothing better could have happened to the State…nothing better was possible than the present alliance”, adding “even people are now understanding the compulsion and desirability of this coalition because of overall atmosphere in and around us”.
“People now understand what would have been the situation if we had gone with the Congress to form coalition in Jammu and Kashmir. There would not have been this kind of peace and normalcy in the State had the great visionary Mufti Mohammad Sayeed not joined hands with the BJP”, he further said.
In response to a question, he admitted difference of opinion with the BJP on certain issues but claimed that both the coalition partners are working on the same lines on almost all the agenda points of the Government. “BJP has also tampered its agenda into requirement of time and to meet the aspirations of people of all the regions and sub-regions of Jammu and Kashmir”, he claimed, adding “both the coalition partners have been accepting each other for the overall good of the State and its people”.
Terming stable inter-community relations as major achievement of the coalition, the senior PDP leader said, “earlier people of different regions were not only indifferent towards each other but most of the times hostile to each other besides being intolerant but we brought the people together and this was the main objective behind forming coalition with the BJP by respecting the mandate of the people”.
On governance, the Minister for Roads and Buildings said, “when we came to power all the vital institutions like Accountability Commission, Information Commission, Human Rights Commission and Public Service Commission were lying completely defunct but Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti successfully infused new lease of life in all these vital organs within shortest possible time”.
He, however, admitted that more attention is required to be paid towards these institutions by addressing their genuine concerns.
Stating that no stone is being left by the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for ensuring good governance and meeting the aspirations of the people, the senior PDP leader said that ration distribution has been streamlined by initiating various steps including by rolling out Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Food Entitlement Scheme.
“The previous dispensation had created huge humanism problem for us by engaging army of casual and other categories of workers but Chief Minister has resolved this problem by adopting humane approach”, he said, adding “it is an admitted fact that 99% of such workers are those who were engaged by the previous dispensation for different considerations but the decision taken by Mehbooba Mufti is purely non-political”.
Pointing towards major developmental works initiated by the PDP-BJP Coalition Government in the shortest possible time, he said that once completed these projects will completely transform the developmental profile of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have come a long way in translating our promises into reality and meeting the development related aspirations of the people even during half of the tenure of Government”, Naeem Akhtar said, adding “it is an admitted fact that J&K is undergoing major transformation with the active support of Union Government, which is most liberal in extending financial assistance to the State”.
Referring to his visit to almost all the districts of Jammu and Kashmir earlier as Education Minister and now as R&B Minister, Naeem Akhtar said, “the initiatives taken by the PDP-BJP Government on development front have given unprecedented rise to the aspirations of the people as they have now realized that this coalition is totally committed to holistic development of the State which was not the scenario in past”.
“During the remaining period of the Coalition Government more steps will be taken to meet the aspirations of the people and for this we are getting unprecedented support from all the Central Ministries”, he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
