Excelsior Correspondent
PHINDER (R S PURA), Jan 27: Reiterating his call for strengthening institutional democracy and a strong justice delivery system in the State the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has welcomed the recommendations of Justice J S Verma about securing the dignity of women in conflict areas.
Addressing an impressive public meeting at Phinder village in RS Pura today he said the amendments proposed by Justice Verma in AFSPA represent the minimum that is needed to establish the rule of law in the State that has witnessed a serious deficit in governance, civil liberties and democratic process.
Mufti said it was unfortunate that a State that acceded to India for its democratic system is reduced to fight even for basic democratic rights of legal remedies that are available to rest of the country and guaranteed by its constitution. It is true, he said that for some time the security forces needed the cover of special laws but it cannot be said that those laws could become a permanent feature of our legal system.
He said the PDP demanded revocation of the AFSPA that takes away the jurisdiction of civil courts in view of the vastly changed situation that will need return to normal application of laws. He said though Justice Verma’s recommendations have been made in the context of the dignity of women only, these add a prestigious and highly respected judicial view to the discourse on the need to restore full civil liberties in J&K.
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.
“With its assiduous efforts the PDP had restored people’s faith in the democracy but the present Government headed by NC is brazenly trying to undermine the democratic institutions”, Mr Sayeed and cautioned that such authoritarian attitude adopted by the coalition regime would be proved disastrous for the State.
Mufti reminded that civic bodies elections, which were due in the month of February 2010, have been delayed with one or other excuse which reflected that this Government was not interested to strengthen democratic institutions at grass root level.
He reminded the people of border belt that PDP has pioneered a political and economic agenda to establish sustainable peace in the sub-continent.
Observing that PDP is the real voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said that regional parties were emerging all over the country and pointed towards emergence of strong regional political powers which dominating political scenes. He said that PDP has successfully connected itself with the people.
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