NC never allowed democracy to flourish in J&K Peoples’ woes compounding due to governance deficit in state: Mufti

GNS Udhampur, Dec : Lambasting ruling National Conference for indulged into deceit tactics to undermine democratic institutions in the state, former Chief Minister and patron of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that NC has never allowed democracy to flourish in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Indifferent attitude of the government to give powers to the Panchayats and inordinate delay in conducting civic bodies election reflects dictatorial mindset of the present dispensation headed by NC”, Mr Sayeed said while addressing a function to welcome prominent leader of Udhampur, Kabir Shah, who along with his hundreds of supporters joined PDP today. Along with Kabir Shah, a large number of Panchayat members also joined PDP and expressed faith in the policies of the party.

“With a hope to get power at grass root level, people had turned up in large number to participate in the Panchayat elections but the government is not serious to empower Panchayats”, he said and regretted that government’s attitude has shattered peoples’ faith in democracy.

“With its assiduous efforts the PDP had restored peoples’ faith in the democracy but the present government headed by NC is trying to undermine the democratic institutions”, Mr Sayeed said and recalled his meeting with the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in which he had impressed on the need of reviving peoples’ faith in the democracy by ensuring free and fair elections in the State. “After my meeting, Vajpayee had announced from the Red Fort to conduct free and fair elections in Jammu and Kashmir”, he recalled and added that defeat of Omar Abdullah from Ganderbal assembly segment, which was earlier considered as bastion of NC, had revived peoples’ faith in the democracy.

“Democracy is the best way to address aspirations to the people and to involve people in the governance”, he remarked but regretted that successive NC regimes in the state have never allowed the democracy to flourish in this region. It was only after formation of PDP that an alternative was emerged in the state. He observed that formation of PDP on July 28, 1999 was turning point in the history of Jammu and Kashmir because party has emerged as credible and real voice of the people.

Asserting that his party was capable of fighting ruling National Conference democratically Mr Sayeed said that he had always sacrificed power for the welfare of people. “I have enjoyed power at the highest level both at center and state but have never made false and hollow promises,” he said and it was all due to conviction of the party that PDP has earned credibility of people.

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 the developmental projects started during PDP led regime were hanging in balance due to mis-goverance of the present regime.

Senior party leader Ved Mahajan, Daman Bhasin, Hussain Ali Wafa, Rajinder Manhas, district president Sukhdev Sharma, Sansar Chand and others also addressed the meeting.

Kabir Shah, 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.