Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, July 30: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today stressed for Jammu and Kashmir specific Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) during future Indo-Pak talks.
Mufti said that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh should accept the invitation of the Pakistan President, Asif Ali Zardari, to visit that country in the month of November that coincides with the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. He also wanted the dialogue between External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar to be fruitful adding that talks alone can bring India and Pakistan close.
It would be in place to mention here that Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday formally invited Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to visit Pakistan to bolster bilateral ties and also make a trip to his ancestral village in Punjab province on the occasion of Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary.
“The Pakistan President has invited the Prime Minister to visit Pakistan in November. He should accept the invitation and visit that country. I am not expecting a breakthrough from these talks, but this definitely would help in breaking the ice. Relations between India and Pakistan can be made better if the long pending issues like Kashmir are resolved,” said Mufti while addressing a public rally held in connection with the 13th raising day of the party.
Mufti said that Krishna should visit Pakistan with an open mind in September and hold talks with Khar. He said that parleys between the leaders of the two countries can help in evolving a process aimed at ultimate resolution of Kashmir issue.
“Former Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf had suggested for the softening of the borders between India and Pakistan, but it was not reciprocated from this side. Prime Minister should have shown some magnanimity as it would have led to cordial relations between India and Pakistan. It is important that both the internal and external dimensions of the Kashmir issue are addressed,” said Mufti.
Mufti asked the Government of India to come out of the past and resume dialogue process with Pakistan that has been stalled after the Mumbai terror attack of November 26, 2008. He said that confusion and bad blood among the two countries would not yield any result adding that love and bonhomie should replace the confrontation.
“The Government alone cannot solve the Kashmir issue and the different stake holders have to step-in in this regard. The PDP has a roadmap for the solution of Kashmir issue and it needs to be followed in letter and spirit. Our roadmap fulfills the aspirations of the people living in Kashmir, Jammu, Doda, Rajouri and Ladakh regions,” said Mufti.
Mufti said that consensus has already evolved in Pakistan that cordial relations with India are necessary and there is no room for confrontation between the two countries. He said Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and leaders like Nawaz Sharief, Altaf Hussain and Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman are in favour of good relations with India.
“New Delhi cannot impose its wishes on the people of Jammu and Kashmir and people should be given a chance to decide about their future. In the past we have seen Government of BJP was not able to impose its wish on the people of State and same holds true with the present dispensation being headed by Congress. People are the real king makers and they should be given the right to decide about its own destiny,” said Mufti.
He added that under a plan the local leaders are not allowed to emerge in Jammu and Kashmir. He said while leaders like Mamata Banerjee, Jayalalitha and Akhilesh Yadav have emerged as popular leaders at their respective places, no such opportunity to the leaders of Jammu and Kashmir was given.
The PDP alleged that Assembly elections of 2008 were technically manipulated adding that the democratic process was also subverted in 1987. He said the good work done with the reopening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote trade routes has not been carried forward. He said telecom facilities along with the banking facilities should be put in place so that the trade between the two parts of undivided State is taken to its logical conclusion.
“Lot of talk has been made about the revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the State. But it seems that this has turned into a mere rhetoric with no forward movement. We are not against the functioning of the Army but they need to work within the sphere of humanity,” said Mufti.
He alleged that sovereignty of Jammu and Kashmir Bank has been handed over to Reserve Bank of India. He demanded abrogation of power agreements made with National Hydroelectric Power Corporation. He said that Panchayati Raj institutions of the State should be empowered like the other States.
In her speech, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti alleged that the Government gunmen are making a comeback in the Kashmir valley. She said the death of Hilal Ahmad Dar, the Bandipora youth occurred due to a nexus between the Government gunmen and the security forces operating in the area.
“It is high time that the security forces are recalled from the civilian areas. Once this happens then there are chances that unfortunate incidents like the one at Bandipora can be stopped. The role of security forces should be minimized so that the people move about freely without any fear,” said Mehbooba.
She said that Kashmiris have been providing security cover to yatris as well as tourists over the years. She said that there is no need to put in place additional security measures for Amarnath Yatra adding the job is being done by the locals. She added that reduction in number of security forces personnel would help in establishing peace in the State especially Kashmir valley.
“It goes to the credit of PDP led coalition Government that draconian laws like POTA were revoked. Steps aimed at bringing relief to the common masses were initiated but as soon as the present dispensation took over all the anti-people measures and steps were back. FIRs registered against the youth in 2010 are yet to be withdrawn and 5,000 continue to remain booked under the frivolous charges framed in 2010,” said Mehbooba.
Mehbooba said that unemployment has come up as a huge challenge after militancy adding that unemployed youth are feeling frustrated. She said that unemployment has assumed alarming proportions in Srinagar city, adding that the State Government has failed to address this glaring problem in the State.
“Youth are seen with suspicion both within the State and outside. This trust deficit needs to be removed so that youth take active part in the overall developmental activities. Otherwise they would feel frustrated and can go to any extent in fulfilling their genuine aspirations,” said Mehbooba.
The rally was also addressed by Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari and national spokesman PDP, Dr. Sameer Kaul.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel