Srinagar,July 12 (Scoop News) – PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has said the resolution of J&K problem constitutes the primary agenda of his party and it was now becoming obivious that the contours of a solution conform to the process which had initiated in 2002. He was addressing a joint meeting of all the legislators, senior leaders, district Presidents and some prominent office bearers.
The meeting was called to discuss detailed programme for commemoration of party’s foundation day on 28th july. The meeting was presided over by PDP patron and attended among others by President Ms Mehbooba Mufti, Senior leader Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, Tariq Hameed Karra, Naeem Akhtar, Peer Hussain and Aga Syed Mehmood . it was decided to hold the public rally in Srinagar on 28th July in which party workers, sympathizers and general public from all over Kashmir valley would participate. A similar rally will be organized t Jammu on 1st August, dates for rallies in Poonch, Rajouri , Chinab Valley region and Ladakh will be announced latter.
Mufti said Kashmir problem would not go away unless it is actually resolved. We have witnessed for the last six and a half decades how the conflict in J&K has been a permanent feature of Indo Pak relations and how badly it has impacted the people of this state. "Nothinhg better can happen to this part of the world than reconciliation between India and Pakistan and resolution of J&K would have to be the centre peace of that process", he said.
Mufti said there have been periods when it looked that the out standing issues over Kashmir were not of importance to the people of J&K. It was either because things looked deceptively too rosy as during some patches in the past or at present when maladministration, bad governance and corruption seem to have emerged as a bigger problem taking people’s focus away from it. But, he said the reality undelying the surface calm has the potential of erupting any time and it can not be permanently managed through security and administrative measures.
Mufti said the PDP which was founded in 1999 with immediate purpose of relieving the people of the state of the pain inflicted by an insensitive system had evolved into a viable forum for resolution. He said with time, experience and inputs from public the party has now an agenda which is being followed by every one whether they acknowledge it or not. He said it was heartening that even those for whom the only solution for Kashmir was the bombardment of Pakistan or return of Pak administered Kashmir only outstanding issue too have now recognized the validity of PDP’s vision to transform J&K into a bridge between the two countries.
The PDP Patron said the party’s vision of establishing a Free Economic Zone (FEZ) conformed to the prime Minsiter Dr Manmohan singh’s well articulated agenda of making the LOC irrelevant. He said it was a very positive development that the civil society and the business community from both sides of LOC now demand a Free Economic Zone (FEZ). This, Mufti said, indicated the emergence of a consensus over this dimension of the problem of J&k which had landed in an economic siege following partition. He said the fundamental principals of an FEZ have already been conceded by the governments of India and Pakistan in 2005 by waiving off the requirments of passport and visa for travel and custom duty for trade. What is needed now is to build on this initiative and "We hope that the Prime Minister puts some pace into this process". He said he expected the PM to take a lead in reaching out to Pakistan to achieve his own vision of reconciliation with that country and he will find the people of J&K behind him.
Mufti urged his party members to create a better awareness about its agenda not only within the state but in rest of the country as well. "We need to educate the people out side the state about the positive nature of our vision for a resolution" he said. Mufti said nobody can brand us anti national for demanding free access to out side world, reopening of our historic routes, return of the power and water assets or our demand for full restoration of democratic institutions. He said our demand for an elected governor is an idea that would some day emaerge as a model for a true federal system in India. Similarly the state should be assured of full respect for people’s choice of a government and application of Article 356 to J&K needs to be revoked. In order to give the people of this state a better representation in administration and governance the ratio in central services needs to be renegotiated.
Mufti said the process of disempowerment of the state was unfortunately continuing under various NC dispensations. After the water and power resources the NC sold out even the JKBank which is now showing its adverse effects in the shape the cash crunch the state is facing. He said this process has not only to be stopped but reversed and PDP could achieve it only with full support of people of the state. "I am satisfied that our agenda is now being hailed in all the three regions of the state which could lead to a better outcome of our efforts as also create an era of a more positive partnership between Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh" he said.