Budgam, Jammu, December 06, (Scoop News)-Expressing dismay over the sudden spurt of violence in Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Saturday said such tragic incidents only bring catastrophe for the families of the victims whether a soldier, a policemen, civilian or a militant. He, however, reiterated that political issues plaguing the subcontinent for decades including the Kashmir issue shall have to be resolved through peaceful means to put an to the environment of hostility and armed conflict in the region.
“Use of violence and bloodshed to achieve political objectives has neither helped in the past nor is it going to help in future except bringing miseries to the people and tragedies for the families,” Mufti said while addressing election rallies in Beerwa, Khansahib and Chrar-e-Sharief constituencies of district Budgam to enlist support for the party candidates Dr Shafi, Saifuddin Bhat and Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjoora. Mufti expressed heartfelt sympathies with the families of all those who lost their near and dear ones in the latest incidents of violence in Kashmir.
Mufti called upon people to frustrate the designs of those forces which are bent upon disrupting peace in the State. “Instead of giving in to the hawkish rhetoric, efforts have to be made to work through peaceful means towards resolution of problems and restoration of permanent peace in the state and the region,” he said and added that time has come for all the right-thinking people in the region to take a fresh stock of the situation and work together for uprooting the scourge of violence and blood-letting from the region.
PDP Patron said the people of Jammu & Kashmir have the greatest stakes in peace as they have underwent the worst trauma of violence for the past more than a decade now, losing almost an entire generation of youth. “We have suffered immensely because of the violence and know very well its dangers,” he said and called for rejuvenating Indo-Pak peace process and working towards larger reconciliation in the region.
Mufti said marking a clear departure from the history of hatred and hostility in the region, the peace process initiated in 2003, had yielded momentous dividends in the shape of the ceasefire along the borders, opening up of cross-LoC routes for passenger traffic and visits by the representatives of the civil society, media professionals, businessmen and ordinary citizens to and from the two sides of Kashmir. “What is more important is that hope had replaced despair during that period,” he said and added that the lack of follow-up and misplaced priorities after 2005, unfortunately, pushed not only the confidence building measures under the carpet but also put the peace process on the back-burner. “And the result is there for everybody to see,” he said and added that PDP had constantly been reminding of dangers in slowing down the process of reconciliation and resolution.
Mufti said PDP strongly subscribes to a participatory political process in which all the parties and points of view contribute in shaping a new future for Jammu & Kashmir and its people. He urged people to use the power of vote to transform the political landscape of Jammu & Kashmir and mark a new beginning in 2015. He said the ongoing assembly election is not only about change but future – future of J&K and its people.
Mufti said Jammu and Kashmir needs to evolve a distinctive political and development model, given the aspirations of its citizens and the scale and complexity of its challenges, and it can be a done only by a strong government with a decisive mandate. “We have to place J&K on a sustainable, equitable, competitive, and high-growth trajectory that is in harmony with the needs, skills, resources, and aspirations of the common man,” he said and added PDP will stand up for real action and give people of Jammu and Kashmir the government that they deserve.
Referring to the local issues, Mufti said Dodhpathri, Tosamaidan and Yousmarg would be developed as much desired tourist circuit to create employment avenues for locals and generate wealth for the State. “PDP will focus on the holistic socio-economic development of district Budgam and will address every infrastructure issue which the area is presently facing,” he said and added that improving and upgrading connectivity in the area would be the focus of the PDP government, if it gets the mandate.
Senior party leaders Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura candidate for Chrar-e-Sharief assembly segment, Saifuddin Bhat candidate for Khansahib assembly segment, Dr Mohammad Shafi Wani candidate for Beerwa assembly segment, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Bashir Ahmad Baig, Dr Gazanfar Ali, Dr Nazir Ahmad Lone, Mohammad Shafi, and many others were also present on this occasion.
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