Restoration of Srinagar’s glory my aim: Mufti Baig urges Srinagar to lead the change in state Molvi, Qarra lash out at NC for its exploitative politics

              

GNS Srinagar Sept 17: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said Srinagar must get its share of development commensurate with its historical importance, economic significance and tourism potential. The top brass of the party including its patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, former deputy chief minister Muzaffar Hussein Baig, senior leaders Molvi Iftikhar Hussein Ansari and Tariq Hameed Qarra today reiterated their commitment to carry forward the implementation of its vision for a holistic development of the summer capital at a party workers convention in Batmaloo constituency.

Mufti said Srinagar was central to the development roadmap of the party forKashmir. “During the brief tenure from 2002 we initiated a holistic development ofSrinagar city which unfortunately was subverted by our successors out of sheer political vengeance and small mindedness” he said. He said Srinagar is the political, social and cultural nerve center of Kashmir and its infrastructure has to cater to the needs of entire valley and an ever increasing floating population including the tourists. “But unfortunately the city fell on bad times as a result of instability and lack of development vision among those who ruled the state for more than three decades, he regretted.

Referring to the major economic and development initiatives introduced by the previous government Mufti said for the first time external funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was secured for the core infrastructure like roads, drainage and drinking water. While places like Srinagar were the supposed to be major beneficiaries of this program for which a special organization Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) in view of the damage it had suffered during the strife, its objectives could not be achieved fully as a result of inefficiency and corruption that marks the present dispensation. He said still a large number of residents could get access to clean drinking water, drainage and better roads but the present government failed to fully harness this program that envisaged a rapid transport system for the city. Not even a single fly over has been taken in hand in four years and government is only making hollow announcements. He said in view of the touristic importance of Srinagar the development should have been taken to a higher level by now but we are still fighting for very basic amenities. “We should by now have qualified for World Bank investment in infrastructure development but instead even the ADB seems to have developed cold feet in view of inefficiency in the government” he said. Mufti said it was a matter of shame that the city faced a virtual siege at its two major entry points, Parimpora and Pantchhokh and as a result all high profile visitors to Kashmir are to be ferried in helicopters to places like Gulmarg and Pahalgam. “With chaos on the roads reaching such levels travel for ordinary commuters has become a nightmare and funds for development are either lapsed or diverted” he said.

Mufti said his government had during its brief tenure started major projects forSrinagar that if continued would have made this city one of the best in the country to live in. “Our people deserve the best and funds are no constraint but it needs a government that has a political direction, vision and a commitment to people which are absent in the present dispensation” he said.

Mufti said he has a strong belief in the abilities of the people of Srinagar who have given Kashmir a distinct identity through their art, craft and immense contribution in the fields of literature, poetry and fine arts. He said the our youth are an asset that can be molded into the best human resource and PDP has a definite plan to make it happen.   “My vision for Srinagar is to restore its glory and the pre eminence of its people who have to play the most crucial role in the transformation of the state into a social and economic model” he said.

Addressing the convention Muzaffar Hussein Baig said the state as a whole andSrinagar in particular had suffered as a result of the devious policies of National Conference. He said the ruling party perceived the PDP as a threat to its decades long domination and instead of improving its performance to stay afloat as a party it had developed a paranoia and spent most of its energies in demonizing the opposition party. Baig said the people of the state had seen through the misdeeds of National Conference and it would be before long that the party would be consigned to the dustbin of history. “They continue to exploit Srinagar only as a result of the boycott of elections and the day people here decide to use their vote a fundamental change would take place in the destiny of Jammu and Kashmir. The self respecting residents of Srinagar owe it to themselves and rest of the state to bring in an element of political accountability so that they get a government of their choice and a government that unlike successive NC dispensations does not sell out their interests” Baig said. He said even the scope for a tactical rigging like 2008 would be eliminated if the people came out to vote in overwhelming numbers and “you would not be ruled by leaders who get elected with 500 votes and claim to be arbiters of our fate”.

Baig said PDP had achieved in its 36 months what NC had not been able to do for the people in 36 years of its exploitative rule. He said it was funny that the NC accused PDP of being close to BJP after the party slept in the lap of RSS for six years. “What compulsion drove the Abdullahs to align with BJP except a job of MS for Omar Abdullah even as it had two thirds majority in the state legislature? The fact is that NC does not feel itself accountable to people and they feel they can come to power as a result of poll boycott and unprincipled tie ups” Baig said appealing people to use their strong sense of discretion in political decision making. “How many times are we going to be deceived by the National Conference?” he wondered.

Molvi Iftikhar Hussein Ansari said the NC was trying to divide the people on different pretexts to safeguard its own interests. He said this party had historically benefitted from discords in the society and always promoted friction but now people had become aware of their machinations. Molvi said NC was once again trying to create dissensions in the society to divert attention from its huge failures in governance.

Molvi said the NC had targeted the youth of the valley and was using all tools of repression to suppress voices of protest and concern. He said after killing hundreds of youth the NC government had framed thousands in false cases. Even 10 year olds were not spared and boys were being arrested for wearing the dress of a particular dress. “The party that was known for arresting radio sets six decades back on charges of listening to broadcasts from neighboring country seems to be doing it all over again by arresting teenagers for wearing green” Iftikhar said.

Recounting the initiatives taken by the PDP led coalition in Srinagar Tariq Hameed Qarra  said their completion would have transformed the city. He said major achievements of PDP led coalition included the securing of over Rs 300 crore project for Dal conservation, beautification of Jhelum river front, widening of bye pass, up gradation of north south corridor (nammath), Dr Ali Jan road, construction of fly over, beautification of Eidgah. For development of handicrafts and tourism, the mainstay of Srinagar economy the party ensures special relief package for stakeholders, reconstruction of exhibition (numaish), establishment of Institute of carpet technology (IICT) and Design Dev Center at Bagh e Ali Mardan Khan, reconstruction of Nigeen Club, construction of Zabarwan park and Badamwari, new TRC at Railway station and a number of other facilities. He said the restoration of Aali Masjid is considered a trend setting effort in the state.

Others who were present on this occasion include District President Mohd Ashraf Mir MLC, Coordination secretary Ab Hameed Kosheen, Vice District president Nisar Ahmad Mandoo, Ab Qayoom,  Ab Rouf, Zone President Noor Mohd, Syed Irfan and Jahangir Wani.