Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 1: Former Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today sought help of separatists in safeguarding the identity of the State.
While addressing a party rally in Rajpora constituency today, Mufti appealed separatists that at his juncture they should come forward to safeguard the interests and unique character of the State. “Hurriyat wants freedom but diamond cuts diamond. I appeal all those who are against accession that it is the time we have to safeguard the interest of Jammu and Kashmir. We have to safeguard the unique identity of State”, he said.
The PDP patron said that PDP would act as a fortress to defend the distinct identity of the State and won’t allow anybody to dilute its special status. “Having emerged as the representative voice of the people across the State, PDP would with full might counter the designs of the divisive forces aimed at diluting the special constitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Mufti said the people of the State now look up to PDP with great hope and expectation for bringing not only peace and stability but safeguarding its politico-economic interests as well. “I am today seeking votes not just to form the new Government, but to win the crusade for restoring Jammu and Kashmir to its rightful place,” he said.
The PDP patron said that his party formed the Government in 2002 when there was lack of trust in the State and Congress president thought PDP can bring the State out of it. “We formed Government at that time when there was a trust deficit to such a level that Congress realized that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed should lead the Government in 2002”, he said.
Mufti said that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his the deputy L K Advani also realized the PDP can only bring the State out of morass it was in. “Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister when Sonia Gandhi announced support for PDP. Same day I had sought appointment with Prime Minister. When I went to meet him, sitting beside him was Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishan Advani. Both of them hugged me and they also realized that the Kashmir that is soaked in blood, there was task force, there was no respect for people’s rights and under these circumstances they though only PDP can pull Kashmir out of it”, he added.
The PDP patron said that his party bulldozed the walls of mistrust and animosity between India and Pakistan. “I salute people of Pulwama and Shopian, they gave full cooperation in 2002 and we changed the history. We bulldozed the walls of mistrust and animosity between India and Pakistan. Those people who were giving slogans of Rawalpindi road, it is in our times when Srinagar-Muzaffarbad road was re-opened”, he added.
The PDP patron said that India can emerge as a super power only if the country’s leadership makes tangible movement forward in resolving issues with Pakistan including the Kashmir issue.
“India can attain the position of super power only if it improves ties with Pakistan by resolving all the unsettled issues including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir,” said Mufti.
The PDP patron said Kashmir issue has jeopardized not only political stability in the region, but is hampering progress on economic fronts including enhanced regional cooperation for trade and commerce. “If India and Pakistan resolve the issue amicably, it will lead to a momentous turnaround in the region’s geopolitical situation,” he said.
Expressing gratitude to the emancipated voters of Shopian and Pulwama districts, Mufti said the people of the area have extended unflinching support to the PDP and the party won’t let them down if it comes to power.
Mufti said a new tourist circuit would be created in the area by integrating the twin districts of Shopian and Pulwama with the tourism potential along the Mughal Road, which would be made an all-weather link between Shopian and Rajouri through a tunnel. Besides, he said road connectivity, power, education and social sectors would be the focus areas of his Government.
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