Appealing the people of Kishtwar constituency to vote for her party in the forthcoming assembly elections, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti Sunday hoped the people living in the mountainous region too will reject the National Conference this time around which has ‘wasted’ decades of Jammu and Kashmir.“You must reject the people who have been exploiting you for last more than four decades and vote consciously as the people’s urge for change under the banner of PDP is getting momentum all across the state,” she told the people while addressing various public meetings in Kishtwar constituency.Mehbooba said the people of Kishtwar can’t afford to go with the National Conference now which has been already decimated by the people in the 2014-Lok Sabha elections. “National Conference is a defeated force now and I hope people of Kishtwar too will reject it the way people of Kashmir Valley did,” she said.
The PDP president said Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah had to run away from Ganderbal constituency after ‘badly failing’ to address its issues, and what he will do to a distant constituency like Kishtwar where his candidate is seeking vote on his name. “Don’t waste your vote by going with a single digit party,” she said while seeking mandate for her party’s candidate for Kishtwar constituency, Firdous Tak.
She said Tak is a young, multifaceted, progressive, forward looking and talented person who needs the people’s support to represent them in the legislative assembly. “Tak won’t let you down. He is a very talented young man, who will represent you in a better way and resolve your all problems and issues under the experienced and sincere leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed,” she said.
Mehbooba said as the electoral contest is now mainly between PDP and BJP “casting votes for NC or Congress would be a sheer wastage of your power to change, she told the people.”Mehbooba said her party is fighting the forthcoming elections to uphold the Jammu & Kashmir’s special position, protect its distinct identity, undertake a massive development programme and resolve the political, social and economic issues facing the state.“Our aim is not only to see Jammu and Kashmir on the path of progress and peace but we want to ensure the unique identity of the state and its people is protected at any cost,” she said.
Referring to the local issues, Mehbooba said construction of Sinhgpor-Chatru- Vailoo tunnel to connect Kishtwar and Inderwal will be among the top most priorities of the PDP once it is voted to form the government. The tunnel will not only shorten the distance between Kishtwar in Chinab region and Anantanag in Kashmir Valley but will be a fair weather road- an alternative to national highway, she said.
Mehbooba said development of minerals in mountainous region will also be the prime focus of her party. She said there is huge minerals wealth available in the mountains of Kishtwar and other parts of Chinab Valley and the new government will exploit them to be used as resource for the development of the state and of the area.
The PDP president said the world famous sapphire which is found in the area in abundance and has remained unexplored and open to loot, the PDP will explore the possibility of establishing local processing units for its value addition and employment generation.
Mehbooba said the hydro power projects in the area have not helped the people by any means. “We will ensure the people in Kishtwar and other areas of Chinab region not only get sufficient electricity to light their homes but they should be preferred for jobs in these projects,” she said.She said there is huge scarcity of ration, kerosene oil and other essential commodities in the area and appealed the administration to ensure sufficient stocks in the area.
She said people living in the mountainous area are also facing huge problems due to lack of drinking water and irrigation facilities and the PDP will work with seriousness to resolve all these issues. Senior party leaders, Peer Mohammad Hussain; Syed Asghar Ali, MLC; Firdous Tak, candidate for Kishtwar constituency; Qazi Mushtaq, Advocate Nasir, Noor Mohammad Malik, Joginder Mahajan, Ishtiyaq Hussain Waza, Wasil Dolwal, Suresh Sharma, Rehmat Chaudry, Jagdish Raina and others were aso present on the occasion.