JK has become a victim of trust deficit: Mufti

 Srinagar May 13 (Scoop News) -Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said Jammu & Kashmir has become a victim of trust deficit between the people of the state and rest of the country and the gap has to be bridged to facilitate a lasting solution to the problem.

Addressing a public meeting at Khumriyal in Lolab, about 100 kilometers from here today he said efforts have to be redoubled 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.

Mufti said it was unfortunate that over the past six decades of relationship the state and rest of the country have lost confidence of each other a fact that has to be publicly recognized in order to be able to find a remedy. “The security establishment in New Delhi is unable to come out of its doubts that Kashmir can ever become a partner in the idea of India without being tethered through force and the people of the state have memories that don’t help in overcoming their mental barriers grown out of bitter experiences with democracy and human rights” he said while calling for opening a new chapter based on mutual trust and understanding. He said while it was true that Pakistan was to remain involved in the solution to vexed Kashmir problem, the Delhi-J&K axis has to come on an even keel to facilitate the vision that is emerging as a possible way out. “The roadmap provided by the self rule document that is under implementation in certain aspects cross LOC trade and travel since 2005 is now universally acknowledged as the most feasible idea that can usher in a new era of resolution, peace and progress in South Asia” he said.

Mufti 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. On the one hand there are heartwarming developments like the US secretary of state visiting Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in pursuit of their global interests and on the other hand is the pathetic picture of J&K with a constitution of its own where the discourse is still revolving round empowerment of panchayats, population control of dogs or the chief minister having to seek approval of officials for removing the disturbed area act. “This asymmetry has to go and J&K has to get its rightful place which can no more be held hostage to the paranoia of the hawkish elements among political and security establishments who it seems have nothing on their mind except Kashmir” he said. “Kashmir will continue to remain a blot on the fair name of Indian democracy
unless justice is done to its people” Mufti added.

Reminding his audience of the real power of democracy Mufti said people’s will could never be ignored or overruled in a democratic system. Neither New Delhi nor the state had any other options except giving democracy a full chance, he said regretting that their was never a matching response from either the establishment or the public opinion in the country to repeated assertion from the state of its faith in democratic values. He said Peoples Democratic Party was now spearheading the movement for resolution, democracy and empowerment and it would take the mission to its logical conclusion with the overwhelming support of the people it is receiving in every area of the state.

Senior party leader and former deputy chief minister Muzaffar Hussein Baig Advocate Abdul Haq, MLA, Haji Abdul Gani Peer, ex-MLA, Fayaz Ahmed, Mohamad Afzal, M K Pandita, Aijaz,  Mohammd Razaq, Advoate Iqbal, Tariq Manzoor, Mohammad Shafi, Anil Pandita, Advocate Mohamamd Amin, Peerzada Abdul Majid Langate, Ghulam Mohiud Din Bhat, zonal president,Ghulam Mohiud Din Sarpanch, Panches and Sarpanches also addressed the meeting.

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