“Self-rule offers comprehensive solutions of all dimensions of Kashmir problem”
Jammu, February 28 – Former Chief Minister and patron of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today said that his party has pioneered a political and economic agenda to establish sustainable peace in the sub-continent and to fulfill wishes and aspirations of all regions and sub-regions of the State. He said that it was during the regime of PDP led coalition that equal treatment was given to all regions and sub-regions of the State.
"Establishing lasting peace and to consolidate the reconciliation process is on the top of the agenda of PDP ", Mr Sayeed said while addressing gathering of prominent citizens of Jammu in a function which was organized in connection with the joining of eminent advocate A K Sawhney in PDP. Sawhney along with three prominent social activists namely Varinder Soodan, Dharampal, advocate and Gulshan Sethi joined PDP in the presence of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and party president Mehbooba Mufti.
“Our party, through its pro-peace policies, has consolidated reconciliation process and facilitated the efforts of establishing peace in this region”, he said, added that beginning of cross LoC trade, opening of Srinagar-Muzafarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote roads are noticeable achievements of PDP”. He further mentioned that prevailing peace all along the borders from Kathua to Kathua was result of the reconciliatory policy pioneered and propagated by the PDP.
He asserted that biggest achievements of PDP was that it has created conducive atmosphere for initiating peace process and taking Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) to normalize relations between India and Pakistan. Mr Sayeed said that by facilitating the peace and confidence building initiatives PDP has positively transformed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Previous NDA regime headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee and present UPA government led by Dr Manmohan Singh whole heartedly supported our initiatives” he observed while recalling the historic rally of then Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee at Kashmir on 18 April 2003 when he had extended hands of friendship towards Pakistan at the time when tension was running high on borders. It was our conviction and credibility that despite tension on border at that time, Atal Behari Vajpayee had made an historical announcement from Kashmir which ultimately led to ease tension on the borders.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed reminded the people that it was during PDP regime that effective steps were taken to remove discrimination and to empower different regions and sub-regions. “Before 2002 there were complaints of step motherly treatment and discrimination with Jammu and Ladakh regions but our government initiated many steps to remove these discriminations”, he said and pointed out that Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were treated equally as far as opening of Universities, Colleges, schools and developmental projects were concerned. "It is our achievement that we successfully removed these discriminations and empowered all regions", he said.
Pointing towards high turnout in the just concluded assembly elections, PDP patron said that it was result of the pro-people and reconciliatory policies adopted by the PDP that such a huge number of people turned up this time to participate in the democratic process. "After 2002 elections PDP has revived peoples faith in the democratic institutions through its policies and programmes", he said.
“The present Assembly, which represent aspirations of all regions and sub-regions, has to play a historical role”, he said and added that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were the stakeholders in the solution of Kashmir problem and the represented elected by them have to play a vital role in this process.
Mr Sayeed reiterated that the Self-Rule document of the PDP was the only and viable solution for solving all problems of this region. “Wishes and aspirations of all regions and sub-regions have been incorporated in the Self-rule document and only through this proposal both internal and external dimensions of Kashmir problem would be addressed”, he said and announced that the party would organize debate and seminars to discuss this proposal all over the country.
AK Sawhney, who joined the party, in his address termed Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as visionary leader who has given new directions to the politics of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that he has decided to join PDP due to the policies and programmes of the party.