Srinagar, November 24(Scoop News)- Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti Sunday said with the support of people, the PDP is committed to take forward its unfinished agenda of political resolution, economic development, restoration of peoples’ self-respect and dignity for the larger interests of peace and stability in the South Asia.
Addressing public meetings at Lalpora and Haihama in Lolab in the North Kashmir’s Kupwara district, the PDP chief said the party with its clear thinking could bring about a perceptible and immediate change in the overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir in 2002, and will take it further if given a decisive mandate. “We could help in reducing tensions between India and Pakistan; the fear and insecurity on the ground was eliminated; the power sector was reformed and new development agenda was started with sincerity and dedication,” said Mehbooba adding the opening of the Line of Control for travel and trade helped in bridging the gapes between the two estranged neighbors and could help in a big way in reducing the trust deficit between them.
PDP reminded the leadership of our country and that of Pakistan that Kashmir issues will not vanish unless it is resolved and the process of reconciliation needs to be taken forward. The tension on the borders was reduced and the historic cease-fire was enforced there, which didn’t get violated till 2010. “Since1947, India and Pakistan tried to enforce cease fire on the borders but they failed to do so till 2002. It was only when the PDP could create conducive atmosphere on the ground, cease-fire was not only implemented but was religiously followed,” Mehbooba said and regretted things are back to square one now and the National Conference led government could only reverse the gains made earlier. She said the cease-fire will continue to remain hostage to prevocational and hawkish utterances, if peace-process is not taken forward seriously.
Relations between the two countries will not smoothen unless the stakes of people are developed in the peace process. The hassles in getting the travel documents need to be removed to pave way for more public interaction. The cross-LoC travel should not remain confined to the divided families only, in order to increase more people to people contacts its ambit needs to be broadened. Routes like Kargil-Skardu need to be opened. To make it more vibrant and successful entity, the hassles in the cross-LoC trade should be removed. Mehbooba said these are the issues which have been agreed upon by the two countries and they need to be implemented.
Increasing the strategic needs of the country and of the region, Kashmir should become a corridor for trade and co-operation that will lead to greater level of satisfaction of people who have been deprived of economic activities and peace so for, the PDP chief said. Over the last 65 years, Jammu and Kashmir has remained a zone of conflict and source of tension, discord, and it is the PDP’s vision to make it the bridge of understanding between the two countries and for that purpose people have to give the party a decisive mandate.
Mehbooba regretted that over last five years everything has been reversed, development process has been stopped, corruption has become the order of the day and the rulers are living in their own fancies without caring about anything else. The continuation of this inept and insensitive government has become a big problem for the people and, in any case, it has to be shown door now. She said the present government could not channalizie the aspirations of people and they could not use the opportunity and mandate to resolve the problems of people.
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