Peoples Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti Sunday said that “only time can tell” when the government will be formed in the state.“Chair is not our destination. If chair can bring peace and we could fulfill dream of Mufti Sahab, for which he took such a bold decision; if chair can help in brining relief to you and Jammu and Kashmir can become a bridge of peace between India and Pakistan then sitting on chair can be worth,” Mehbooba said while addressing workers at the membership drive function here at party Headquarters.“But if the same situation remains, killings, encounters don’t stop then it is no use to sit on the chair. Then my inheritance is my party which is enough for me,” she said amid applause from the party workers who had gathered here for the membership drive programme for Srinagar district.While addressing toward workers, she said that the PDP was their property.“Your property is PDP, we have to strengthen it. I as a president of the party know what the problems of the people are. Whatever be my decision, it will first consider the development and peace of the state,” she said.
Later, when reporters asked her about the meeting on government formation with BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav, she said: “I think that is something that only time can tell.”On the membership drive, the PDP president said: “We had decided to start membership drive for the party in January. Since Mufti Sahab’s spent his last day in Srinagar on this date, we decided to start the membership drive today,” she said.“For the last one and half month, I am hearing that why don’t you take up the chair (of chief minister) left behind by my father. Chair and power are not the legacy of my father. Mufti Sahab’s legacy is so huge that it can’t be replaced by the chair.”Mehbooba hailed the role of late Mufti played in the peace and development of the state.“He (Mufti) had seen that India is a democratic country in which the people have the power of vote. He stood for secularism and respecting all religions in the country and in the state. Mufti Sayeed had respect for the people of the state and would treat with dignity the youth of the state.”
“Mufti Sahab’s legacy and inheritance was the people of the state. For me too, my inheritance is you. I have nothing with me. You are my property,” she said, in a sobbing voice and teary eyes.“When Mufti Sahab was in AIIMS, he asked me to inquire whether the flood relief was released and residential quarters for Kashmiri Pandits at Sheikhpora and Wassu in Kulgam are being constructed,” she said.“We have a perception here that this party is good and that party is bad. But Mufti Sahab was not ready to believe in this. He trusted his honesty and conviction that nobody can mislead him or overpower him.”“You have to understand who stood for your empowerment. He gave a big sacrifice not for power and not that his daughter has to sit on chair. But that if PDP join hands with any power in the country it should benefit the people of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh.
He would dream of making Jammu and Kashmir a bridge of peace between India and Pakistan. He wanted to convince the leadership in the country to talk to Pakistan for peace and development of the state,” she said.Without naming Burhan Wani, the Hizbul Mujahideen commander, she said his sister got a position in her exams and many positions were achieved by students from Pulwama where militancy has grown in the last few years. “These are the two sides of the Kashmir,” she said.The PDP president said that her party has an obligation to play a role for bringing peace in the state.“It is painful when people are killed here. How would the parents of these slain people feel? Our youth with BA, MA are picking up guns. Isn’t it our obligation as a party to play our role to stop this bloodshed, and work for peace. We have to empower ourselves first, then nobody can harm us,” she said. (KNS)