Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 13: Former Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has alleged that J&K has become victim of trust deficit between the people of the State and rest of the country and the gap has to be bridged to facilitate the lasting solution to the problem.
Addressing a public rally at Khumriyal in Lolab today, the PDP leader said efforts have to be re-doubled to remove apprehensions on both sides that have marred chances of reconciliation, resulting in untold miseries to the people of the region, J&K being the worst sufferer.
“It is unfortunate that over the past six decades of relationship the State and the rest of the country have lost confidence to each other. The security establishment in New Delhi is unable to come out of its doubts that Kashmir can never become a partner in the idea of India without being tethered through force and the people of the State have memories that do not help in overcoming their mental barriers grown out of bitter experiences with democracy and human rights”, Mufti maintained.
The PDP leader further claimed that the roadmap provided by the self rule document which is under implementation in certain aspects like cross LoC trade and travel since 2005 is now universally acknowledged as the most feasible idea that can usher in new era of resolution, peace and progress in South Asia. He said a true and strong federalism is emerging in India but unless J&K finds its place of dignity in the emerging scenario, the picture would remain incomplete.
Senior party leader and former DyCM Muzaffar Hussain Baig that the National Conference led Coalition Government has landed the State in its worst crisis on political and economic fronts. The Ministers had declared independence in running their departments like personal fiefs and the Chief Minister has lost the political and moral authority after his own involvement in the episode relating to Haji Yousuf’s death in suspicious circumstances. The Chief Minister under such circumstances can not question his Ministers on corruption or other issues.
Referring to Omar’s repeated AFSPA mantra, Baig said the institution of Chief Minister has suffered immense erosion of prestige as the present incumbent had been unable to implement even his own pronouncements. He (Omar) was going to officials in army, civil administration to plead for something that was within his jurisdiction and had done incalculable damage to democratic institutions in the State.
Abdul Haq MLA, Haji Abdul Ghani Peer (Ex-MLA), Fayaz Ahmed and Mohammed Afzal also spoke on the occasion.