Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 10: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has said the decisions about Jammu and Kashmir will be taken by the people of the State and their destiny can not be guided through remote control.
Addressing a public meeting at Pahalgam, Mufti reiterated that unless the peace process between India and Pakistan is redirected to J&K specific measures as had happened in 2003, the dialogue will lack meaning for the people of this State who are the main stakeholders in reconciliation between the two countries.
Mufti said PDP has emerged as a source of stability and given the people’s support to it, its voice can not be ignored. “PDP has provided a platform to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for channelising their democratic aspirations,” he remarked.
Talking about the tourism potential of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti said development of infrastructure for high end tourism and preservation of environment and ecology should be the corner stones of tourism policy for the State. He said PDP had initiated this policy by virtue of which new areas were opened up for tourism in the State. While, recalling some major initiatives his Government had taken for revival of tourism, Mufti said as many as 22 tourism development authorities were created in his tenure.
“Work on golf courses, multi facility clubs, new parks, accommodation and roads was started in already established destinations like Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Ladakh and Patnitop. “Unfortunately, there has been a very lazy follow-up with the result most of the projects are still awaiting start up. Complaints of favoritism and how virgin places with full tourism potential have been spoiled by the vested interest groups in nexus with politicians galore,” Mufti remarked.
He said PDP led Government’s priority was to promote new destinations and virgin spots all over the State and Kokernag, Verinag, Aharbal and Achabal were among the long list of such places brought under the purview of tourism development authorities. “It is unfortunate our efforts have not been carried forward significantly like many other initiatives of the previous Coalition Government,” he opined.
Mufti was accompanied by the senior Vice President Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, Mohammad Rafi Mir MLA Pahalgam, party’s national spokesman Dr Sameer Kaul and PDP chief spokesperson Naeem Akhter.
The PDP patron said while it was heartening that tourism flow has grown after its revival few years ago but the statistics alone can not determine its true economic potential which has a direct bearing on environment and ecology of the State. “We have to build infrastructure that can compete the best in the world and attract foreign exchange and respect for ecology and environment for which very strict standards will have to be enforced,” he observed.
Speaking on the occasion, party senior vice president Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, expressed concern over the paralyzed governance in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the present dispensation can not count even a single area of achievement in its nearly four years of rule.
Rafi Ahmad Mir, MLA Pahalgam, while addressing the gathering said it was unfortunate that his constituency was being run by judicial orders because of present Government’s inability to take decisions. “This is why the High Court has been forced to ban all illegal construction activities in Pahalgam and the people suffer for want of basic amenities,’ Mir added.
On this occasion PDP National spokesperson Dr Sameer Kaul said the disorganized governance in the State has given an unbearable misery to the people who suffer for basic amenities and public services guaranteed to them.
Naeem Akhter, the chief spokesman of PDP in his brief address said it is Pahalgam and Ganderbal constituency that changed the political scene in Jammu and Kashmir by electing Mehbooba Mufti from Pahalgam and defeating Omar Abdullah from his ‘stronghold’ Ganderbal constituency. “These two decisions of the people gave a new shift by introducing an element of accountability within the system of the State,” he remarked.
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