Regretting that the National Conference led coalition regime has created an anarchic situation in Jammu and Kashmir, patron of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that the present government has derailed the process of peace and reconciliation, which was started during the PDP-Congress regime. The process of peace and reconciliation, which pioneered by the PDP, had yielded encouraging pidends during PDP-Congress regime, Mufti said while addressing an impressive public meeting at Surankote town. He, however, regretted that the present regime headed by National Conference has failed to carry forward the pro-peace agenda initiated by its predecessor.
“The present regime has failed to connect itself with the masses and the alienation among people has been increasing with every passing day due to the widening of the gap between the commoners and the ruling elites”, he observed and added that it was during the period of present government that trust deficit between people of Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country has reached to the highest level. “We don’t believe in self glorification but it fact that during PDP-Congress regime dignity and honour of the people of Jammu and Kashmir was resorted and there was a sense of security among masses”, he said and listed various revolutionary steps which were taken during that period especially the revocation of POTA and disbanding of STF. “There was a sense of fear and insecurity among the people when the PDP was formed in 1999,” he pointed out, adding that through its pro-peace agenda, the party had not only created a sense of security among people but also restored dignity of the masses. Pointing towards historic initiatives taken by the PDP led regime for this mountainous region, Mufti said that new routes of communication were opened in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri- which were the worst victim of siege after the 1947 partition. “Opening of cross LoC routes and construction of Mughal Road has opened new avenues in this region which was neglected by the successive National Conference regimes”, he said and added that there was a huge tourism potential in this belt and opening of such routes would attract local as well as foreign tourists. He said that peace process initiated by PDP-Congress regime in 2002 yielded momentous pidends in the shape of the ceasefire along the borders, opening up of cross-LoC routes for passenger traffic and trade.
“Poonch-Rawalakote has emerged as biggest trade route in this region”, he observed and told the gathering that it was during PDP led regime that Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University was opened where various job oriented courses were started. “Our party has not only restored peace in the state but also laid a strong foundation for accelerating development in all regions and sub-regions,” he said, while reminding that it was only during the PDP regime that equal treatment was given to all regions of the state. Asserting that his aim was not to attain power but to make Jammu and Kashmir an “island of peace and show window of brotherhood and communal harmony”, Mr Sayeed said and reminded that the PDP was formed with the aim to upholding the dignity and honour of the resident of the state. Coming down heavily on present regime for its failure to solve day today problems of the people, he said that as far as performance of this regime is concerned it is one of the worst government the people of J&K has witnessed so far.
“This government lacks any coherent policy and is functioning on adhoc basis. The power position has worsened with frequent load shedding and curtailments, the health and education services are in a mess, most of the central schemes for ameliorating the lot of the poorer and marginalized sections have failed to achieve the targets in view of scams and mal administration”, he said. Yashpal Sharma, MLC, Abdul Hamid Manhas, Choudhary Zulfikar, MLA, Dr Sameer Koul, Zafar Manhas, Advocate Mukthiyar, Mohammad Ayub Shabnam, Choudhary Javid, Abdul Aziz, Attaullah Malik, Tariq Manhas, H D Qureshi, Advocate Shahzad Khan, Amjad Khan, Zakir Hussain and other block presidents also addressed the gathering.