Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senior leader and party candidate for Amirakadal constituency Syed Altaf Bukhari has said an impressive voter turnout in the first two phases of assembly elections should not be misconstrued as an end of dissent but a vote against mis-governance, inefficiency, corruption and injustice.
Addressing people during his door-to-door campaign in various areas of Natipora, Bukhari on Thursday said that the remarkable turnout during the first and second phase of elections is actually peoples’ aspiration for change. “The long queues in front of polling booths seen during the last two phases of elections amply declares that it was an overwhelming desire to vote for change through good governance, transparency, accountable and probity in the system,” Bukhari said while reacting to BJP leader and union finance minister Arun Jaitely’s statement that the massive voter turnout was an end to dissent.
He said dissent is a necessary ingredient of democracy and the rule of law and any overtures to suppress the voices of dissent are actually detrimental for a healthy democratic set-up. “We all believe democracy as the most acceptable form of governance because a citizen has a right to dissent without fear of victimization,” Bukhari said while advising BJP leadership to refrain from making such sweeping statements that are not only fraught with dangerous consequences but can ghastly impact the electoral process in the state. “The generalized statements made by the BJP leadership are unwarranted and uncalled for. PDP believes that democracy is a battle of ideas and there should be an element of tolerance and accommodation for every kind of political opinions,” Bukhari remarked.
Advocating the need of evolving a consensus vis-à-vis resolution of Kashmir issue, Bukhari said the electoral process has been providing an opportunity to find an amicable settlement of the issues. “Unfortunately, the National Conference led coalition government has not been able to come up to the expectations of people and it has utterly failed to create a conducive atmosphere to attend the voices of dissent,” the PDP candidate for Amirakadal constituency observed.Bukhari said that PDP is committed for creating conducive atmosphere for a result-oriented and sustained dialogue process besides facilitating engagement of all shades of opinion to arrive at a lasting solution to all the issues yet to be addressed. “Sofar the voting trend has been remarkably impressive and PDP understands its responsibility and the serious challenge ahead. “Cautioning people about the nefarious designs of communal and pisive forces, Bukhari said some vested interest elements were bent upon piding the pluralistic state on the basis of regional and communal lines. “Unfortunately these opportunists continue with their nefarious designs. They don’t have any regard and respect for cultural, ethos of Kashmir’s pluralistic society,” Bukhari observed.
The PDP senior leader urged the electorate of J&K to defeat such forces for maintaining geographical unity and communal harmony in the state. Bukhari asserted that PDP envisions a comprehensive roadmap for the harmonious and equitable development of all the regions and sub-regions in the state.“I also appeal the voters to judge PDP by its three years performance and cast their votes accordingly,” he said and highlighted the multi faceted development that was achieved under the brief tenure of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in 2002. “It is for everybody to see and judge. However, a lot needs to be done for the development of infrastructure, provision of employment, regular power and drinking water supply and mounting unemployment,” Bukhari said, while pledging to continue his relentless efforts to develop Amirakadal constituency as a model constituency in the while state.
He said that during its thirty years rule in the state, National Conference has never underpinned the significance of Srinagar city as the heart of Jammu and Kashmir. He said despite representing the whole district in the assembly during last six years, National Conference cannot count a single achievement by virtue of which the Srinagar city witnessed a remarkable change.“Be it traffic congestion, poor road network, scarcity of safe drinking water, erratic power supply or violations of Master Plan, the National Conference has never bothered to reciprocate to the mandate given to it by the people of City especially during last six years when its represented all the eight assembly segments of the city,” Bukhari stressed, while adding that PDP during its brief period of three years rule took a number of initiatives to develop Srinagar into a modern city and in its latest manifesto has resolved to rebuild and re-construct Srinagar as a Smart City with planned infrastructure including all kinds of basic amenities. (CNS)