Excelsior Correspondent
Chrar-e-Sharief, May 12: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today said the youth are emerging as party’s greatest strength as they see their aspirations and concerns being adequately accommodated in PDP’s pro-people agenda. She said with youth on the forefront of the new movement, winds of change have already started blowing from Lakhanpur to Salamabad and it would fructify in 2014.
“The State’s youth have to play a crucial role in shaping up politically emancipated and economically vibrant future for Jammu and Kashmir and they see PDP as the most appropriate platform to realize that dream,” Ms Mehbooba said while addressing a party workers’ convention here today.
Party leaders Tariq Hameed Karra, Ghulam Nabi Lone, Dr Samir Kaul, Saifuddin Bhat and Nazir Ahmad Itoo also addressed the convention.
She said the youth of State have great expectations with PDP as the party has represented their just concerns and aspirations in a dignified manner. “‘The youth are our party’s great strength,” she said and added that PDP will safeguard their interests.
Ms Mehbooba said PDP is the only party in the State which has a separate vision document for the youth “The Youth Development Policy” that encompasses various measures for political, social and economic empowerment of the youth.
She said the time had come when the youth of Jammu and Kashmir must also become the beneficiaries of the region’s fast expanding economy.
Ms Mehbooba said despite getting only three years in power, the PDP has left lasting imprints on the minds of the people through pioneering developmental initiatives in almost all the sectors. “The introduction of the concept of Self-Help Groups of Engineers and hassle-free loaning facilities for various sectors had encouraged a new generation of young and dynamic entrepreneurs to come up during that period,” she said and added that unfortunately with the advent of the present regime in 2009 all those initiatives took a back seat.
“While the promises of Sadak, Paani, Bijli and Rozgaar have fallen flat, scandals, corruption, crime, nepotism are ruling the roost,” she said and added that the people who have been engaged for years are being kicked out to pave the way for backdoor appointments against monetary considerations.
She said extremely fed-up with the non-performance of the present regime, people across the State are yearning for a change and it is heartening to see that the youth are on the forefront of this new political movement for change.
Addressing the convention senior PDP leader Tariq Hameed Karra said that NC keeps on harping about autonomy is responsible for handing over the State’s precious water resources to the Centre in lieu of the chair. He said the latest in line is the surrender of JK Bank to RBI financially disempowerment the State. “The surrender of RBI has already resulted in causing multitude of fiscal problems to the State with treasuries running dry resulting in delayed payment of salaries and other dues including the bills of contractors,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion PDP national spokesperson Dr Sameer Kaul PDP has a very bright future and the party believes in preserving that ethos of the state at any cost. He said people are looking with great hope and expectation at PDP to bring around a change for the better future of the State.
Senior PDP leader Ghulam Nabi Lone said that NC has changed the government into a big politico-contractor mafia where the developmental works are being carried out mostly by the kith and kin of the functionaries of the present regime, even without proper codal formalities.
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