Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 18: Congratulating Narendra Modi for his party’s landslide victory in Lok Sabha polls, People’s Democratic Party patriarch Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said he was hopeful the new BJP Government would take tangible steps in finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir problem.
In a statement here, the PDP leader said he further hoped the Modi Government would pursue an agenda which would be “politically-inclusive and developmentally-intensive”.
“We congratulate Modi and his party on their outstanding victory. We hope his developmental agenda is intensive and his political agenda inclusive.
“That is what is needed and expected of him in his new role,” said Sayeed, whose party bagged all the three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir.
The former Chief Minister hoped the new dispensation at the Centre would make efforts to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir problem.
“I hope the new Government, under the leadership of Modi, will take tangible measures to address the causes of alienation and trust deficit in Kashmir and work towards finding a long-lasting solution to the problem plaguing the region for the past more than six decades,” he said.
Modi had earned the political and electoral legitimacy to be the Prime Minister in view of the decisive mandate given to his BJP by the people, Sayeed said.
“People have given a decisive mandate to the BJP for a strong and stable Government. Modi has got the political and electoral legitimacy to head the new Government. We must all respect this legitimacy that has been accorded to him by the people of the country,” the PDP patron said.
Sayeed expressed gratitude to the people of Kashmir for electing PDP candidates to the Lok Sabha, saying this amounted to endorsement of the party’s agenda.
“The results of the Lok Sabha polls make it amply clear that the people of the State have come together with their powerful voice and have expressed their will unambiguously. They have affirmed our course. They have told us to move forward,” he said.
“I am especially humbled by the overwhelming endorsement of my party’s political and economic agenda by the State’s young population who have started playing decisive role in democratic exercises as is evident from the results of the Lok Sabha polls,” the PDP leader said.
He thanked the Election Commission of India for what he said ensuring by-and-large free, fair and peaceful elections in J&K.
Sayeed urged political parties to make a fresh start to confront challenges facing the people of J&K.
“Let us rise as one to meet these defining challenges of our time so that our future generations thank us and say truly this was the turning point in J&K’s turbulent history,” he said.
Sayeed said J&K is at the threshold of a momentous transformation and it needs a caring Government which only a truly committed political party can provide.
“I reiterate my party’s resolve to work hand-in-hand with progressive and democratic forces in the country and the region to facilitate a dignified resolution of the Kashmir problem and issues confronting J&K,” he said.
The PDP veteran said he visualised a space of dignity, opportunity and prosperity for the people in the paradigm of friendship and cooperative relationship between India and Pakistan as “envisioned in PDP’s Self-Rule document”.
“The State can’t remain aloof from the massive economic progress taking place in the country and the region and our enterprising young generation has to be provided a more congenial atmosphere to flourish and assimilate into free and flourishing global market economy,” he said.
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