Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, June 24: Former Chief Minister and patron of People’s Democratic Party, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has said that Jammu and Kashmir would act as a bridge between India and Pakistan to resolve all pending issues and the decision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to invite the leaders of the SAARC countries in his oath-taking ceremony in Delhi was a bold step to improve relations with all the neighbours.
Addressing a public rally here today, Mufti Sayeed lauded the decision of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to invite heads of SAARC countries in the oath taking ceremony of his Government and described it as a bold step to improve relations with neighbouring countries. He said that J&K should be developed as role model for SAARC countries and State, which is bone of contention between India and Pakistan, should act as bridge to normalize relations between two countries.
Mufti Sayeed introduced party candidates announced for Assembly elections for the four seats of Rajouri district. He said that new Government at New Delhi will have to address Kashmir issue and to improve relations with Pakistan. He was of the opinion that things have started falling in place for rejuvenation of peace process with Pakistan with resolution of Kashmir as an important component of that. He said J&K would be the biggest beneficiary of the peace process that was started in 2003 but remained on back burner for many years. “It was all due to cooperation and support of then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpyee that peace was restored in this region”, he said and added that healing touch policy started by the previous PDP led Government in the State was endorsed by the previous NDA Government headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee.
While pleading for giving a push to cross LoC relations through trade and travel, Mufti said the beginning made on this crucial front has laid down the ground rules for establishment of an Economic free zone across the LoC which would open up immense opportunities of employment. Demanding opening of more routes on LoC and International Border (IB) Mufti said “Our vision is that any resident of erstwhile J&K should be able to visit anywhere without the slightest problems. LoC should become line of cooperation and not mere control”, he said.
Reminding the gathering that it was during the regime of PDP that peace was restored on the borders, Mufti said, “the ceasefire, announced during PDP regime, has brought much relief to the people living in the border areas besides paving way for pursuing the dialogue process between the two countries”.
“The peace process, despite frequent disruption and its slow pace, had brought hopes in the lives of millions of people in the two countries”, he said and reminded that the PDP had pioneered the process of peace and reconciliation. Maintaining that peace is imperative for development, Mufti sought support of the people to take the peace and reconciliation process to its logical conclusion. He said that his party has road map to address problems of all sections of the society. He claimed that it was during the regime of PDP that prestigious Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah (BGSB) University was opened at Rajouri. “It is my desire that this University should emerge as centre of knowledge in this sub-continent”, he said and also promised to make Mughal Road as all weather track which will remain open throughout the year for traffic.
In the meeting Mufti introduced party candidates namely Choudhary Qamar Din for Rajouri, Choudhary Zulfikar for Darhal, Surinder Choudhary for Nowshera and A B Shah for Kalakote segments. Yashpal Sharma- MLC, Basharat Bhukari-MLA, Choudhary Zulfikar-MLA, Ch Qamar Din, Surinder Choudhary, A B Shah, Aijaz Mirza, Haq Nawaz, M R Qureshi, Bharat Bhushan Gupta, Ashok Sharma, Anjum Mirza, Tazim Dar, Tahir Lone, Master Prem Nath, Choudhary Zamshid, Majid Shah, Ishan Mirza, G H Atish, Haji Alam Din and others also spoke on the occasion.
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