Urging the country’s political leadership to revive the process political reconciliation and economic rejuvenation in Jammu and Kashmir as was done in 2003, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and Member Parliament, Ms Mehbooba Mufti Monday reiterated her party’s resolve to usher the State into an era of peace, stability and prosperity.“There is no substitute to dialogue and the policy of peace and reconciliation that was put in place after 2002 assembly elections in and around J&K,” Ms Mehbooba said while addressing a PDP workers convention here today.Expressing dismay over the continuing tension along the borders in J&K, she said the process of reconciliation has to be taken to its logical conclusion in the interest of peace and stability of the region as confrontation has only brought miseries to the people. “Since its formation, PDP has been on the forefront of responding to the aspirations of the people and channelize them through democratic means,” she said and added that the driving force for the PDP’s pro-people agenda is the public support, without which the party could have not achieved much, both in and out of the Government.
Mehbooba said in its brief tenure in the government between 2002 and 2005, PDP had successfully taken the state on the path of peace, tranquility and development. "We had set a goal of healing physical, psychological and emotional wounds inflicted by violence, strive towards giving good governance, ensuring political stability and fulfilling expectations of the people. We made efforts and succeeded in numerous ways as the country’s political leadership at that time fully supported the new enterprise of hope," she said and sought people’s support to accomplish PDP’s unfinished agenda of ending political and economic uncertainties plaguing Jammu and Kashmir for decades.“Unfortunately the successive governments in the state didn’t pursue the process of reconciliation initiated under the leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002. Even the cross LoC bus flagged off in 2003 was never changed,” she said.
“History has come full circle now. The people of J&K remember that time as one of peace and economic rejuvenation in the state. The political leadership of the country has once again got an opportunity to engage and end the stalemate in the region,” she said and added that alongside political initiatives, a sustainable developmental process has to be started in J&K to consolidate the peace efforts.“The new government under the leadership of Mufti Sahab has set the ball rolling to revive crucial sectors like road communication, health, education and rural development which were at the verge of decay due to negligence and corruption in the previous governments,” she said.Mehbooba said the state government has prioritized the employment of the educated youth on permanent basis in a transparent manner and various skill enhancement programs have been started for aspiring youth so that they get productive employment.Complimenting the PDP cadres for having sacrificed their personal interests for the larger welfare of the party and the State, Mehbooba said the party has tried to acknowledge this fact by empowering the cadres at the grassroots level. (CNS)