Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 1: While launching frontal attack on the Congress Party today, former J&K Chief Minister and PDP patron, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed alleged that Congress stood exposed for its ‘shadow boxing’ and double standards on the 73rd Amendment as it continued to harp on the issue in the public despite the fact that it was ruling (in coalition) for the last 11 years in the State.
“Congress Party is in `Coalition Government’ in the State for the last 11 years. Being in Government and in power, if its leaders only harp in the public or give statements for the media consumption, it sounds of its double standards. It the leadership is so serious on the issue why can’t they talk with in the coalition? Why to raise this issue only in public or before media? Ye Dogli policy nahi chalne wali. The people can not be befooled for long,” Mr Sayeed said while launching election campaign for the party candidate Yash Paul Sharma for Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency.
Referring to the repeated statements being given by the Congress leaders on 73rd and 74th amendments in public, Mufti said that failure of Government to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State was a clear indication that Congress leaders were giving statements only for public consumption but internally they were also not serious in strengthening democracy at grass root level.
“Had Congress leaders been serious in holding Civic Bodies polls or strengthening Panchayats, the Government would have taken some concrete steps in this regard,” he observed and regretted that Congress leaders were indulging in double standards.
Mr Sayeed said the Congress raised this issue when Dr Manmohan Singh inaugurated Udhampur railway line in 2005. Since then, the party could not fulfill its commitment with the people. “If you can not fulfill your promises made with public in the election manifesto while in power, you can never accomplish it when out of power. The people realize this fact and they can not be befooled any more. The PDP fulfilled all its commitments which were made with the public as per its election manifesto,” he maintained.
Pointing towards delay in strengthening Panchayati Raj Institution in J&K and conducting Urban Local Bodies elections, Mufti said that Congress Party was equally responsible for depriving people of Jammu and Kashmir of their legitimate democratic rights.
Terming the forthcoming Parliament elections as an historic opportunity before the J&K people to send credible representatives in the Lok Sabha, the PDP patron sought the support of the people to ensure victory of party nominee to vociferously raise issues of common masses in the Parliament. He said that unlike in other parts of the country, coming elections in J&K were not only an exercise to elect Lok Sabha members but to send trustworthy representatives in the Lok Sabha, who would represent people’s aspirations with sincerity and dedication.
Mufti said that PDP has earned credibility and faith of the people due to its conviction and commitment. “We are contesting Lok Sabha elections to give voice to the peoples’ wishes and aspirations” he said adding that like other parties our representatives would not maintain silence in the Parliament over the issues related to J&K. Without naming any political party, the PDP stalwart said that it was all due to the failure of our representatives that due attention was not given to the issues related to Jammu and Kashmir in the Parliament. PDP wants to send tested and credible representatives in the Parliament to take up people’s issues with conviction and commitment.
While introducing party nominee Yash Paul Sharma to the workers from Jammu and Samba, he said that Sharma a crusader of communal harmony and brotherhood has set an example of credible leadership in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
He pointed out that some people were talking of contesting elections jointly but it should be made very clear to them that PDP is hardly bothered and it has made its place in the public due to its programmes, policies and conviction. It has proved its efficiency, skills of governance and earned credibility during short stint of just three years. There were no employees’ strikes and detention of Hurriyat leaders or exploitation of political prisoners during PDP rule.
The PDP leader lauded the efforts of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for its peace initiative and said that peace along the borders was must for the prosperity and development and over all progress and peace of the State. Some people tried to disturb peace in the State but people have displayed wisdom and maintained peace and brotherhood.
Speaking on the occasion, the party candidate Yash Pal Sharma sought support of the party workers and assured that he would work for the betterment of the people of this constituency. He asserted that aggressive campaign would be launched shortly. PDP vice president T S Bajwa, general secretary Th Balbir Singh and Hamid Choudhary also addressed the gathering. Prominent among others present included Shanti Devi, Depinder Kour, Fallail Singh, Hussain Ali Wafa, Ashok Jogi, Rashid Malik, Jagjit Singh Jagga, R K Bali, Surjit Kour, R S Manhas, Susheela Jamwal, Capt Anil Gour and Suresh Sharma.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel