PDP working on comprehensive solution to J&K problems: Mehbooba

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 19: Ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today said that the party is in the works for a comprehensive resolution to J&K’s “political, economic and developmental problems” and the results will be out soon, for all to see.
“We have started picking up the threads from where we left in 2005 to revive the process of political resolution and economic rejuvenation in the State. My party will resolve to work for a comprehensive resolution of J-K’s political, economic and developmental problems.
“The results of this renewed effort will be there for everybody to see, sooner than later,” Mehbooba said while addressing a convention of PDP cadres in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
While stating that the party is optimistic about a reversal of fortune for the State, the PDP leader said that the party’s core agenda was not event-related, rather it is a process which would be taken to the logical conclusion through tangible initiatives at political, economic and administrative fronts.
“We have demonstrated this strategy during our brief stint in power between 2002 and 2005, and would continue to pursue our core ideals and developmental agenda with unflinching consistency in our present tenure in the Government as well,” she said.
Mehbooba said the PDP-led Government had in 2002 sparked political, economic and social activity on a phenomenal scale in the State facilitating complete transformation of the ground situation on almost every front.
“Lack of political direction, repression, rampant misgovernance, large-scale corruption, fiscal mismanagement, nepotism and institutional decay perpetuated by the National Conference (NC)-led coalition Government during the past six years has brought the situation back to square one,” she charged.
Criticising the NC Government for “fueling a fresh wave of cynicism and alienation, especially among the youth, leading to a sudden drift in the situation”, Mehbooba said that the Mufti Sayeed Government had to make a fresh start on every count, after it came to power.
“Due to the complete reversal of the confidence building and developmental process started by PDP-led Government in 2002, we are today standing at a point where not only the enormous damage done by the NC-led Government is to be undone, but our Government has to make a fresh beginning almost on every count,” she said.
The PDP president said the State was reeling under virtual governance-paralysis under the NC rule and that the devastating floods of September 2014 hit the State economy right in the head.
She said the main challenge before the party today is governance and delivery as it assumed office amid trying circumstances which were completely in contrast to the situation in 2002.
“We took over the reins of the Government in the backdrop of the massive devastation caused by the September 2014 floods and the subsequent systemic failure of the then Government in responding to the tragic situation and reaching out to the affected people,” she said.