Baig says CM’s institution devalued by Omar Respect people's will to remove trust deficit between JK and New Delhi: Mufti

GNS Srinagar May 13:Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has said Jammu & Kashmir has become a victim of trust deficit between the people of the state and rest of the country and the gap has to be bridged to facilitate a lasting solution to the problem. Addressing a public meeting at Khumriyal in Lolab, about 100 kilometers from here today he said efforts have to be redoubled to remove apprehensions on both sides that have marred chances of reconciliation resulting in untold miseries to the people of the region, J&K being the worst sufferer.

Mufti said it was unfortunate that over the past six decades of relationship the state and rest of the country have lost confidence of each other a fact that has to be publicly recognized in order to beable to find a remedy. “The security establishment in New Delhi is unable to come out of its doubts that Kashmir can ever become a partner in the idea of India without being tethered through force and

the people of the state have memories that don’t help in overcoming their mental barriers grown out of bitter experiences with democracy and human rights” he said while calling for opening a new chapter
based on mutual trust and understanding. He said while it was true that Pakistan was to remain involved in the solution to vexed Kashmir problem, the Delhi-J&K axis has to come on an even keel to facilitate
the vision that is emerging as a possible way out. “The roadmap provided by the self rule document that is under implementation in certain aspects cross LOC trade and travel since 2005 is now universally acknowledged as the most feasible idea that can usher in a new era of resolution, peace and progress in South Asia” he said.

Mufti said a true and strong federalism is emerging in India but unless J&K finds its place of dignity in the emerging scenario the picture would remain incomplete. On the one hand there are heartwarming developments like the US secretary of state visiting Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in pursuit of their global interests and on the other hand is the pathetic picture of J&K with a constitution of its own where the discourse is still revolving round empowerment of panchayats, population control of dogs or the chief
minister having to seek approval of officials for removing the disturbed area act. “This asymmetry has to go and J&K has to get its rightful place which can no more be held hostage to the paranoia of
the hawkish elements among political and security establishments who it seems have nothing on their mind except Kashmir” he said. “Kashmir will continue to remain a blot on the fair name of Indian democracy
unless justice is done to its people” Mufti added.

Reminding his audience of the real power of democracy Mufti said people’s will could never be ignored or overruled in a democratic system. Neither New Delhi nor the state had any other options except
giving democracy a full chance, he said regretting that their was never a matching response from either the establishment or the public opinion in the country to repeated assertion from the state of its
faith in democratic values. He said Peoples Democratic Party was now spearheading the movement for resolution, democracy and empowerment and it would take the mission to its logical conclusion with the
overwhelming support of the people it is receiving in every area of the state.
Speaking on the occasion senior party leader and former deputy chief minister Muzaffar Hussein Baig said the national conference led coalition had landed the state in its worst crisis on political and
economic fronts. He said the ministers had declared independence in running their departments like personal fiefs and the chief minister had lost political and moral authority after his own involvement in
the episode relating to Haji Yousuf’s death in suspicious circumstances. “Omar Abdullah can not question any minister or official after the corruption in ruling family and the party was exposed through Yousuf gate” he said.

Referring to chief minister’s repeated AFSPA mantra Baig said the institution of chief minister had suffered immense erosion of prestige as the present incumbent had been unable to implement even his own
pronouncements. He said Omar Abdullah going to officials in army and civil administration to plead for something that was within his jurisdiction had done incalculable damage to democratic institutions
in the state. “People of the state feel slighted by the inability of their chief minister to keep up his promise of

scrapping AFSPA in 3 days” and the subsequent drama that saw him issue a new statement

everyday.
Baig said border areas like Lolab had witnessed great relief during the government headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Now it was time to build on those gains and bring in a development revolution but
unfortunately the funds received for roads, water, electricity,

education and health are pocketed by politicians in league with their favorite agents in the administration. “The same administration he said had produced entirely different results under the previous
coalition, he said.

Advocate Abdul Haq, MLA, Haji Abdul Gani Peer, ex-MLA, Fayaz Ahmed, Mohamad Afzal, M K Pandita, Aijaz,  Mohammd Razaq, Advoate Iqbal, Tariq Manzoor, Mohammad Shafi, Anil Pandita, Advocate Mohamamd Amin, Peerzada Abdul Majid Langate, Ghulam Mohiud Din Bhat, zonal president,
Ghulam Mohiud Din Sarpanch, Panches and Sarpanches also addressed the meeting.