Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 21: Sounding caution against alleged attempts of polarization and fiddling with special status of the State, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today warned that such political misadventures for electoral gains would only push Jammu and Kashmir into horrible situation.
“I advise caution to all the stakeholders against pushing Jammu and Kashmir towards dangerous polarization by some divisive forces for electoral gains,” he said while addressing election rallies at Doda and Kangan today.
Mufti said no political party should try to make religious, sectarian and ethnic divide part of its agenda and instead allow Jammu and Kashmir to flourish as a bouquet of communal harmony. “In this regard, I want to remind Centre that States are not formed on the basis of religion,” he added in a veiled attack on BJP.
The PDP patron also warned against any attempt of fiddling with special status of Jammu Kashmir State and said that such political misadventure is fraught with dangerous consequences. “Any attempt to fiddle with the special status of J&K and its composite culture has the potential of not only deepening the trust deficit between Srinagar and Delhi, but also fueling alienation as well,” he said and added that Jammu and Kashmir has already suffered immensely because of the political uncertainties and efforts have to be made by one and all to pull the State out of the morass.
Stressing that there was need for bold steps to address the Kashmir issue instead of making overt and covert efforts towards political invasion of the sensitive State, Mufti said that only a multidimensional approach and not the hawkish rhetoric would save the State from decades-old miseries. “Kashmir issue has to be addressed at political, diplomatic, constitutional and economic levels,” he said.
The PDP patron further said the trust deficit between residents of J&K and rest of the country has to be bridged by ensuring justice, fair-play and equality before law. “Unless people in the State enjoy the dividends of being part of a democratic system, the alienation levels would in-turn result in more problems for them in the State,” he added.
“Governance deficit and trust deficit are the main causes of ever increasing alienation of the people so there is a need to restore people’s faith in governance and democracy,” he said and added that PDP was committed to bridge the gap between different regions and also between people of Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country.
Highlighting the achievement made on this front during his tenure as Chief Minister of the State, Mufti Sayeed expressed the hope that the new Government headed by Narendra Modi would follow the holistic path shown by former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajapyee and Dr Manmohan Singh while dealing with Kashmir problem.
“Government of India shall have to take all the stakeholders on board within and outside the State besides initiating dialogue with Pakistan to work-out a lasting solution of the problem ,” he said and added that the assertions like Insaniyat, Jamhuriyat and Kashmiriyat have to be translated into reality.
He said the renewed trust people of the State have reposed in the democratic institutions, offers a fresh opportunity to work through peaceful and reconciliatory means towards addressing all the dimensions of the Kashmir issue in a manner that balances and promotes enduring political and economic stability in the State and the region. “PDP visualizes a space of dignity, opportunity and prosperity for the people of Jammu & Kashmir in the paradigm of friendship and cooperative relationship between India and Pakistan,” Mufti said.
Addressing the rallies, senior PDP leader and Member Parliament Tariq Hameed Karra accused Omar Abdullah of presiding over the worst ever regime in J&K and alleged that after having lost the ground, National Conference leaders were now trying to exploit Kashmir’s pain for political gains by indulging in absurd theatrics. “While people in every nook and corner of J&K are suffering immensely because of the complete collapse of governance, NC leaders have reverted back to the outdated tactics of emotional blackmail to exploit the public sentiment,” he alleged and added that although New Delhi had never given such unflinching support to any Chief Minister in J&K as was given to Omar Abdullah, but unfortunately six years down the line, Omar Abdullah instead of using this support for public good has presided over the complete collapse of governance in J&K.
Bashir Ahmad Mir, candidate for Kangan constituency and Shuhab-ul-Haq, candidate for Doda Assembly constituency, also accompanied Mufti Mohammad Sayeed during the rallies in their respective segment.
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