Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Mar 21:Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said that it is only Prime Minister Narendra Modi who can improve relations with Pakistan for healing the wounds of people of Jammu and Kashmir and taking them out of quagmire.
Addressing an election rally in Anantnag, Mehbooba said: “If today there is any leader, who has people’s mandate and can make atmosphere conducive, improve ties with Pakistan for healing wounds of people of Jammu and Kashmir and get State out of quagmire, then that is only Narendra Modi and no one else. An Opposition leader said Modi is to stay there till 2024 then it means we will have to work with him for next 8 to 10 years.”
Chief Minister said that her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed made alliance with BJP as he was not greedy for power.. “Mufti made a big decision by allying with BJP and there was no greed of power. She defended alliance with BJP, saying they have had mandate of Jammu people with 25 seats”, she added.
Mehbooba said that they need Modi as he is going to stay there till 2024 as per an Opposition leader. “We shook hands with the (BJP) Government in Delhi. Why? Recently Omar Abdullah, not me, after UP results were declared told Congress to forget (winning polls) till 2024. That means we need this leader. At present, we need the Government in Delhi, we need Narendra Modi because he has mandate”, she said.
Chief Minister said that State has human issues beyond power and electricity issues. “We have lot of issues; we don’t have only power and electricity issues. We have very big issues, we have human issues. Our issue is how hearts of you people are won”, she said.
Mehbooba said that today there are talks with Pakistan on Indus Water Treaty and tomorrow they will go ahead on opening of more routes. “Today talks are underway with Pakistan on Indus Water Treaty (IWT). If today there are talks on IWT then tomorrow there would be talks on opening routes. Last time I had raised this issue. These things – hold talks, open routes and improve atmosphere – are in our agenda. That’s why we need this leader…We have to do something for youth”, she said.
Chief Minister said that affluent have sent their children outside State and asked do the poor children need to pelt stones. “The affluent people sent their children outside State; some other people sold one kanal land and sent their children to Jammu. But what about poor children? Do they need to pelt stones always?” she asked.
Mehbooba said that her party has mandate to get people out of this quagmire. “See, our party has full-fledged agenda which is the agenda of people and people of Jammu and Kashmir have to get out of this quagmire. We are today again in the ground of Parliament (elections) in order to carry forward the agenda which was started by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in 2002. And the way people revered our agenda earlier because our agenda is people’s agenda, I am hopeful that people will make us successful with huge margin and will support the agenda of PDP which is to take out the Jammu and Kashmir out of quagmire”, she said.
Mehbooba said PDP is pursuing its agenda ever since its inception with dedication and sincerity, power or opposition notwithstanding. She said her party has pursued this agenda with all seriousness and despite temptations and limitations of times. She said PDP provided the all important alternative political narrative in the State which subsequently helped in bringing peace and persuading Centre to take some bold State specific confidence building measures.
Chief Minister said whenever her party formed Government in the State, be it in 2002 or 2015, it did so after long drawn discussions by chalking out common areas of governance which were popularly known as CMP or Agenda of Alliance. “That’s why the results were evident at the end of our Party’s rule in 2005. POTA was withdrawn, Task Force was disbanded and crackdowns were abandoned. More so, when late Mufti Sayeed raised the demand of opening the State to outside world, it was positively responded with the opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote roads”, she added saying it led to cooling down of tempers within the State which resulted in a decade long ceasefire on borders as well.
This time also in 2015, the Chief Minister reminded the gathering, her party took a historically tough decision of allying with BJP though there were very easy options of power sharing in the State available. “But Mufti sahib did it because he never shied away from speaking the truth and taking decisions which were in the interest of Jammu & Kashmir”, she said.
Mehbooba Mufti said it was this national consensus and political will that under the leadership of late Mufti Sayeed not only many big political decisions like resumption of dialogue with Pakistan and separatist leaders and repeal of draconian laws and lifting of curbs on civilian movement were ensured but the State was given a whopping Rs. 24,000 crore Prime Minister’s reconstruction package as well. Similarly this time, she said a Rs. 80,000 crore Prime Minister’s Development Package was announced by the Prime Minister which once executed would give the State a developmental and social turnaround.
The PDP President said she is hopeful that many more bold and big steps on Jammu & Kashmir would follow to give its people respite from bloodshed and uncertainty. She favoured opening of many more cross LoC routes which were modes of people’s transportation historically.
“Let’s open more routes and allow people more connectivity and interactions. Jammu & Kashmir is the gateway to South and Central Asia. Hazrat Shah i Hamdan came to Kashmir with all its culture and cuisine. Let’s explore that all. Lets open routes in Jammu and Ladakh and let the State move ahead as a hub of economic and progressive activities,” she told the gathering while underscoring the importance of national consensus and political will in achieving this all.
The candidate for Anantnag Parliamentary seat, Tasaduq Mufti in his address said that his father was passionate to work for his people and that is why he worked till his last day.”…Mufti was passionate about his work and it was there until last day of his life”, he said.
Tasaduq said that unemployment will end if youth are enthusiastic. “Unemployed will end only when you will be enthusiastic in similar manner…If you have to walk with me then you will have to change yourself as well as your thinking”, he said.
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