Our collation has laid foundation of mutual trust and confidence”

PDP led regime has scripted a chapter of peace,

equitable development in J&K: Mufti

GNS Jammu : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that PDP-Congress regime in its tenure had delivered response governance to the people by addressing aspirations and wishes of all regions and sub-regions of the state. He said that PDP led regime had also scripted a new chapter of peace and development in the state.

Addressing an impressive public meeting organized by party state secretary Hussain Ali Wafa at village Langer in the outskirts of Jammu city, Mr Sayeed reminded that there was total chaos and confusion in the state when PDP led regime was formed in the year 2002. “Through our visionary policies and programmes, PDP led regime has changed political discourse of the state”, he said and added that it was all due to the result of the policies of the party that peace was established in the state during that period.

 “There was a sense of fear and insecurity among the people when PDP led regime was formed”, he recalled and added that through its pro-peace agenda PDP had not only created a sense of security among the people but also restored dignity of the common masses by pioneering and implementing peace and reconciliation policies.

“In the 2002 we had just 16 members in the Assembly but our party had convinced successive governments at Delhi, through our convictions, to initiate some bold Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) to restore lasting peace in this region”, he recalled and pointed towards opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarbad and Poonch-Rawalkot roads during that period. “After 1947, all the traditional routes connect Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the world were plugged and there was a sense of siege among the people. By opening cross LoC routes PDP tried to open these plugged traditional routes”, he said and added that opening of Sailkot-Suchetgarh road was also on the agenda of PDP.  

He said that it was all due to the efforts of PDP that Kashmir, which was earlier a bone of contention between India and Pakistan, has become a bridge between the two countries.  

Highlighting achievements of PDP led regime, Mufti said that it was only during the PDP-Congress government that equal treatment were given to all regions and sub-regions of the State. “During the tenure of PDP-Congress coalition, all elected representatives irrespective of their party affiliations were involved in the developmental activities and equal funds were distributed in all regions and sub-regions”, he said.

Reiterating his resolve to remove regional disparities, former Chief Minister said his government has set an example of equitable and balanced development in Jammu and Kashmir. “Credit goes to the PDP-Congress regime that first time after 1947, all regions were treated equally in developmental and other activities”, he maintained and added that it was after 2002 successfully efforts were made to empower all regions to remove the sense of inequality and discrimination.

Mr Sayeed said that PDP led coalition regime has laid a foundation of mutual trust and confidence among inhabitants of different regions and sub-regions of the State. “Our government treated all regions equally but backward and ignored regions were given special attentions", the PDP patron said and challenged his opponent to come with any evidence of discrimination with any regions or sub-regions during his regime.

He said that PDP-Congress coalition had not only restored peace in the state but also created conducive atmosphere for accelerating developmental activities in the State.

“It is unfortunate that the present government has not failed to carry forward the peace process but it also wasted all the gains’, he observed and sought support of the people to take the pro-peace agenda to its logical conclusion.

Reiterating demand of his party to fully empower Panchayats, former Chief Minister warned that his party would vehemently oppose any attempt to ignore elected members

of  Panchayats in constituting Block Samities and Zila Parishad. “Only elected persons should be made head of Block Samities and Zila Parishad”, he said.

Emphasizing on the need of evolving national consensus on Kashmir problem, he said that UPA government should initiate some bold steps to improve relations with Pakistan.

Party vice-president Trilok Singh Bajwa, general secretary and former Minister Dalawar Mir, Dr Sameer Kaul, Ved Mahajan, Shanti Devi, Daman Bhasin, Choudhary Zulfikar Ali, MLA, Gaffar Sofi, MLA, Falail Singh, Bharat Bhushan, R K Bali, Nizamud Din Khatana, Deepinder Kour, H R Chargotra, Rashid Malik, Mohinder Kotwal, Capt Anil Gour, Suresh Sharma, Sukhvinder Singh, and others also spoke on the occasion.