Excelsior Correspondent
ANANTNAG, Nov 19: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said the divisive agenda of BJP and its allies in Jammu and Kashmir could be counterchecked only through a decisive vote. He urged people to offset this new devious challenge unitedly through democratic means.
“PDP sees the upcoming elections as a challenge not only to prevent the divisive and frenzied elements from causing any harm to JK’s special status, but safeguarding the State’s unique constitutional and pluralistic character by establishing new bonding between the communities and regions,” Mufti said while addressing impressive election rallies at Anantnag and Achabal after filing his nominations here.
Mufti, who is the Chief Ministerial candidate of PDP, was accompanied by senior PDP leader Peer Mohammad Hussain, former Advocate General and Senior Advocate Altaf Naik, Advocate Javaid, Advocate Jawad and Sajad Mufti at the time of filing of nominations.
He said PDP’s agenda goes beyond good governance on which it has established credentials and it looks forward to paving the way for a dignified resolution of Kashmir. “Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are a part of a bouquet and it must continue to be like that and PDP will nurture that idea at any cost,” he said and added that a defining moment has come in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir where people have to stand up to the massive challenge ahead to pull the State out of the political uncertainties and economic deprivation.
“It is my desire to establish a system where every section of the society would get justice and equal opportunities for development and economic growth”, he said and added that the agenda of the PDP was formulated by accommodating wishes and aspirations of all regions and sub-regions of the State. He said that PDP during its tenure had carved out a path of peace and development in the State by treating all regions and sub-regions equally.
Expressing satisfaction at the steady growth of PDP, as a platform for change, Mufti said the credit goes to the disciplined, dedicated and ideologically motivated cadres of the party and people living in all regions of the State. “PDP has now emerged as a respectable voice from the State that channelizes the aspirations of the people across regions, religions and communities- representing the beautiful mosaic of the diversity of J&K,” he said and added the people of the State today look up to PDP with hope and expectations of filling up a representation gap that had almost been institutionalized in the State as a result of the monopoly of a single party.
Mufti said while the performance of the party in the recent Lok Sabha elections represents a watershed in the State’s political and democratic history it also come as a challenge to its leadership and cadres. “The Lok Sabha elections represented the crucial step forward in investing the electoral process in the State with much needed credibility and one can hope it serves to inspire the people to exercise their franchise more effectively in order to shape a new future for the State,” he said.
Mufti said one of the major contributions of the PDP is to have introduced an element of accountability and political audit in the State. The people now have a clear choice from among the parties who are in the field to seek their mandate, he said. “We hope that people would judge us on our performance during our brief stint in the Government, in opposition and on the basis of the agenda of change that we placed before them,” he added.
Referring to the immense tourism potential in the area, the PDP patron said once voted to form the Government PDP will setup a separate tourism development authority for Achabal-Chatapal circuit to give boost to tourism in the area. He said Anantang town will be developed on modern lines with all civic amenities and state-of-the-art infrastructure. Mufti said to ease traffic congestion in the area a separate bypass will be developed for Kokernag-Anantanag circuit.
Mufti said besides a medical college which has already been sanctioned for Anantanag the PDP Government will also setup a engineering college in the area.
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