Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 26: A former IPS officer today joined Opposition PDP here, saying party’s “progressive agenda” and State Government’s “failure” motivated him to choose it.
“Raja Ajaz, former Inspector General of Police (Crime) along with his hundreds of supporters was welcomed in the party by president Mehbooba Mufti,” a PDP spokesman said.
Aijaz, who hails from border town of Uri in North Kashmir, said it was the “progressive agenda” of PDP that impressed and motivated him to join the party.
“PDP in its brief period of governance had restored the trust of people in democratic institutions by following its words with action on the ground.
“The state had witnessed a new era of development and peace under PDP rule led by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. Not only the PDP brought an end to the havoc created by cross border shelling, but turned a border area like Uri into a corner stone of its people to people connectivity plans across the border,” he said.
The former IG, however, expressed regrets that the present dispensation has “failed” the mandate of the people especially in the border areas, including Uri.
“The Coalition Government through its half backed programmes has pushed the state into a socio-political and economic quagmire,” he alleged.
Mehbooba expressed hope that Aijaz’s joining would strengthen the party at the gross root level, particularly in border areas like Uri.
“The party wants to deliver the change that people are expecting to come in the next elections through right thinking people,” she said.