Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Nov 30: Former Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today showered praises on former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for improving relations with Pakistan.
While addressing a rally in North Kashmir’s border town of Uri, Mufti said that Vajpayee improved relations with Pakistan that led to the re-opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and other Kashmir specific confidence building measures. He said that time has come to carry forward the process which Vajpayee started in Kashmir.
“The Prime Ministers used to come here and stay at Governor house. We called former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and he came here and thousands of people attended his rally. I didn’t go to him with begging bowl. I told him, these people want to live honorably. They want to live peacefully and want resolution of Kashmir. He is big politician. We opened Srinagar-Rawalpindi road and re-wrote history. We strated Srinagar-Muzaffarbad road. I received the guests from PoK. The army General Hasnain told me that where these Pakistanis crossed, it used to be firing line. We re-wrote history”, said former Chief Minister.
Mufti said that the process of making Jammu and Kashmir a model State has to be taken forward. He said that Vaypayee and then Deputy Prime Minister had realized the PDP can deliver.
He said:”I ended the era of harassment when I was Chief Minister. I gave clear directions that there should be no harassment of people during the crackdowns as everyone is not a militant. I disbanded the Police Task Force and revoked POTA.”
Mufti sought a decisive mandate for his party so that it will carry forward its agenda of political resolution, good governance and employment generation and convert Jammu and Kashmir into a real welfare state.
Mufti said Jammu and Kashmir is poised for a positive turn as the movement for change is gaining ground in every nook and corner of the State. “This election is not just about development and governance, it is about safeguarding the distinct identity of Jammu and Kashmir and upholding the dignity of its people,” he said.
Former Chief Minister said the momentum has already been set for the momentous change in the very first phase of polls as PDP has been able to inspire confidence among the people in all the regions of the state about its ability to solve the multiple problems faced by Jammu and Kashmir on political, economic, administrative and financial fronts.
Mufti said the ‘political subversion and uncertainty’ that the state has faced in the last seven decades has already taken a heavy toll on its polity, economy and human resource and it can ill afford any further disruption.
“Attempts being made currently by some quarters to squeeze the space for its residents will have to be met with maturity, wisdom, collective action and democratic assertion of our rights,” the PDP patron said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel