Jammu, December 10 (Scoop News) –Retreating resolve of his party to establish a new system of justice and equality in the State, patron of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that emergence of PDP has restored sanctity of democratic institutions in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that successive National Conference regime have never allowed democracy to flourish in Jammu and Kashmir but it was only after emergence in PDP in the political scenario of the State that faith of peoples’ was restored in democratic institutions.
Addressing a function to welcome large number of youth who joined PDP here today, Mufti argued that democracy was the best way to address aspirations of the people by involving common masses in governance. He, however, regretted that unlike other parts of the country people of Jammu and Kashmir were deprived of the real taste of democracy because successive National Conference regimes were indulged into deceit tactics to undermine democratic institutions. He mentioned towards infamous rigged elections of 1987 to substantiate his argument.
He said it was only after formation of PDP that an alternative was emerged in the State and this party has been aggressively pursuing pro-people agenda. He said that formation of PDP was turning point in the history of Jammu and Kashmir because this party has emerged as credible and real voice of the people.
“Faith of the people in the democracy and democratic institutions was restored only after 2002 Assembly”, he said and added that credit for reviving peoples’ faith in democracy goes to PDP only because this party has honoured mandate of the common masses. He further added that it was only during the PDP led coalition regime in the State that elections to the urban local bodies were held after a more than two decades to strengthen democratic institutions at grass root level.
Mufti said that PDP has also scripted a new chapter of peace and development in the State and has challenged the hegemony of National Conference.
“The way people of the state has been supporting our party, it has become clear that there is no alternative of PDP in the state and this party is going to change destiny of the people by implementing its progressive and visionary agenda”, he said, adding, change is imminent in Jammu and Kashmir because people have faith in the policies and programmes of PDP.
Seeking cooperation of the people, he said that PDP with the help of the masses want to change destiny of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “It is the only the people who would ensure peace, security and development in their respective areas so with the power of people I want to establish a new system of justice and equality in this region”, he said and pointed towards emergence of strong regional political powers in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and some other parts of the country where people have brought changes through their power.
“Attaining power is not our only agenda. Our aim is to get people of Jammu and Kashmir out of the present corrupt system and to change their fate,” he said.
Pointing towards rampant corruption in the state, Mr Sayeed observed that governance deficit was the main reason of increasing alienation of the people. “Corruption has crossed all limits due to lack of transparency and accountability in the government”, he said and pointed out anti-graft panels have been deliberately made defunct in the State.
Rangil Singh, T S Bajwa, Thakur Balbir Singh, Ved Mahajan, Yashpal Sharma, Falail Singh, Hussain Ali Wafa, Rashid Malik, Yashpal Sharma, Rajinder Singh Manhas, Saleem Choudhary, S K Raina, Pawan Dev Singh, Bhano Partap,
In the function Pankaj Sangral (Sunny) along with his supporters joined PDP. Sangral, in his address said that he has decided to join PDP due to the visionary policies of the party and leadership qualities of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti.
Prominent among others who joined PDP included Raj Kumar Goel, Pawan Sharma, Sidharath Thakur, Janak Raj and others.