Excelsior Correspondent
R S PURA, Mar 25: PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that his party has scripted a new chapter in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir by challenging the hegemony of the National Conference (NC) and provided an alternative to the people of the State.
“NC leadership has never allowed democracy to flourish in the State because this political party has brazenly used undemocratic means to remain in power”, Mr Sayeed said while addressing an impressive public meeting in R S Pura.
“Formation of PDP in the year 1999 was turning point in the history of Jammu and Kashmir because, in short span of time, it has earned credibility of the people and the party has emerged as biggest political force of the State”, he said, adding, “I don’t want to praise ourselves but it a historical fact that it was PDP that had revived confidence of the people of the State in the democratic institutions”.
“From 1947 to 2002, NC had never allowed strengthening of democratic institutions in the State because instability in the system as well as in the State suits this party”, he observed and asserted that PDP has challenged domination of NC and changed political discourse of the State through its visionary and pro-peace policies.
He recalled that when PDP was formed there was a sense of fear and insecurity among the people. “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”, he said and added that the healing touch policy implemented by PDP led regime in the State had given encouraging results.
“Although we had just 16 members in the Assembly, our party had convinced successive Governments at Delhi, through our convictions, to take some bold peace initiatives”, he recalled, adding, “PDP had entered into alliance with Congress by formulating a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) in which wishes of all people were incorporated and pro-peace agenda was given first priority”.
“During our regime we have not only restored peace in the State but also created atmosphere for accelerating developmental activities”, he said and regretted that present regime has derailed the process of peace and development in the State. “During the last three years, alienation among people has been increasing due to governance deficit because this regime has failed to connect itself with the people.
“During the last three years this regime has eroded and undermined all prestigious democratic institutions be it Assembly, Urban Local Bodies or Panchayati Raj Institutions”, he said adding that almost one year has passed after elections but no decision has been taken so far to conduct elections of the Block Samities and Zila Samities of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
“Civic bodies elections were scheduled to be held in the month of February 2010 but the Government has been delaying the elections without any reason”, he observed and regretted that Government was not interested in delegation of powers at grass root level.
Trilok Singh Bajwa, Hussain Ali Bafa, Bhushan Dogra, Chatter Saini, Jagjeet Singh Jagga, Som Nath, Shakti Sharma, Amrik Singh Reen, Narinder Pal Singh Raja, B D Gorkha, Choudhary Chuni Lal, S S Sodhi, Sartaj Singh Rana, Capt Hazara Singh, Surinder Singh and others also spoke on the occasion.
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