Kulgam-Kashmir,February 7 (Scoop News) –Pointing towards recent incidents of the killing of innocent people especially the teenager by the security forces in Kashmir, President of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti today said, “You can not suppress political aspirations and democratic urges of the people of Kashmir by the state terror and oppression.” “Need of the hour is to address political aspirations of the people by realizing the ground realities”, she opined and added that repressive policies being pursued by the government are bound to fuel alienation and public unrest.
Addressing a seminar on Self-Rule at Kulgam in South Kashmir,Mehbooba while expressed her grave concern over deteriorating situation in Kashmir Valley, stressed on the need of respecting democratic urges of the people to remove alienation. She regretted that the present dispensation headed by National Conference has miserable failed to carry forward the process of peace and development-which was initiated by the previous regime headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
She said, “What to say of further consolidating the reconciliatory and peace initiatives made by the PDP led government, this coalition regime has even reversed by the whole process through its oppressive measures.”
Mehbooba said that Self-Rule proposal of PDP was aimed at fulfilling democratic and political urges of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as this document was prepared by incorporating wishes and aspirations of all regions and sub-regions of the State. She said proposal presented by her party was realistic and practical solution to address both external and internal dimension of Kashmir problem.
PDP chief said that Self-Rule suggest opening of all traditional routes to make Jammu and Kashmir a trade free zone as it will help socio-economic growth of the state. She further said that opening of all routes would not only boost economic growth of the people of this region but also facilitate reunification of divided families. She said that all traditional routes would be opened after peace was prevailed in this region and the PDP has been working to restore sustainable peace in the sub-continent. “Socio-economic growth of the State has been restricted after the partition due to plugging of all routes connecting Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the world”, she observed and maintained that her party’s proposal suggest opening of all traditional trade routes for the economic growth of this region.
Pointing towards on-going across LoC trade, she said that it was all due to the efforts of PDP that this trade was started and this process has boosted economic activities in both sides of Kashmir. She, however, regretted that present government headed by National Conference has failed to further facilitate the cross LoC trade. “As regions and sub-regions are equal stakeholder in the peace and development of the State, the Self-Rule proposal of the party stands for economically and politically powering all regions of the State”, she said and pointed out every part of the State suffered due to the prevailing situation.
She emphasized on the need of virtual unification of both sides of Kashmir by making the borders irrelevant. “PDP in its Self-rule has proposed constitution of Council comprising members from both sides of Kashmir and representatives of New Delhi and Islamabad ”, she said and added that unification of both sides of Kashmir was possible by opening more and more trade routes and making this belt as trade free zone.
Mehbooba said as per the Self-Rule proposal the Sadar-e-Reyast must be elected and should necessarily belong to the state. The proposal suggests that Article 356 of the Constitution,under which the state governments are dismisse, should not be applicable to Jammu and Kashmir. “Verdict of people should not be negated by those sitting in Delhi”, she said and pointing towards other suggestions in the Self-Rule proposal.
Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Sartaz Madni, Abdul Gaffar Sofi, MLA and Nazir Ahmed Lawal, district president Kulgam also addressed.