Rajouri, Dec 12: Taking a dig at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for ‘mishandling’ the issue of revoking Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today said that this issue was raised only to divert attention of the people from Haji Sayeed Yousuf Shah’s death as this ‘sensational killing has exposed corruption in the government as well as in the ruling NC party.’
“Sensitive and important issue AFSPA is being used as a ploy to divert attention of people from the custodial death of the NC worker,” Mehbooba observed and regretted that Omar Abdullah has mishandled the issue and created confusion. She was addressing public meetings at Darhal and Thanamandi areas of Rajouri district.
Reiterating resolve of her party that AFSPA must be revoked from all over the state, she reminded that in the year 2007 when her party had raised this issue all political parties including NC had asked PDP leaders to surrender their security before demanding revocation of AFSPA.
Observing that revocation of AFSPA was inevitable, she recalled that it was Mufti Muhammad Sayeed who had taken in up the issue of revocation of AFSPA with the Prime Minister and a committee was set up at the highest level to review it. She further said that this demand was raised by PDP in the Round Table Conference and later it was included in the recommendations of the Working Groups.
Reiterating resolve of her party to aggressively pursue the pro-people agenda, Mehbooba said that PDP-led regime, during its short tenure, had not only resorted peace in the state but also laid strong foundation for accelerating developmental activities in all regions and sub-regions.
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 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”, she said and added that there was a huge tourism potential in this belt and opening of such routes would attract foreign tourists.
She reminded that PDP had promised to complete Mughal Road and this promise was fulfilled. She added that peace process initiated by PDP-Congress regime in 2002 yielded momentous dividends 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”, she observed and informed that gathering that it was during PDP led regime that Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University was opened where various job oriented courses were started.  Furthermore, various new administrative units were also created to remove backwardness and under-development of this belt.
She reminded that PDP was formed with the aim to uphold the dignity and honour of the resident of the State. “There was a sense of fear and insecurity among the people when PDP was formed in the year 1999”, she pointed out and added that through its pro-peace agenda PDP had not only created a sense of security among the people but also restored dignity of the common masses.
“PDP-Congress coalition had not only restored peace in the state but also created conducive atmosphere for accelerating developmental activities in the State”, she said and mentioned that a package of Rs 24000 crore was sanctioned for the development of the state during that period. Furthermore, various development projects were sanctioned by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the state.
Pointing towards prevailing anarchy and chaos in the state during the last three years, she regretted that the present regime has not failed to carry forward the peace process but has spoiled the favourable atmosphere created by the previous government to further accelerate developmental activities. She pointed towards defunct central sponsored schemes in the state because the state government has failed to provide matching grants for these schemes. “Instead of arranging matching grants to make such welfare schemes functional, the state government is more concerned about disbursing funds to its blue-eyed boys in irrational manner,” she said.
Speaking in the public meetings, former Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Qarra said that custodial death of NC worker at the residence of Chief Minister reflects how corruption has been deep-rooted in the state. He said that during the last three years this regime has done nothing to mitigate woes of the people. He said that only noticeable achievement of this regime was legalization of corruption and the government has failed to bring transparency and accountability in the governance.
MLA Darhal and district president of PDP, Choudhary Zulfikar while addressing public meetings pointed out that developmental activities came to stand still as authorities were not concerned about removing backwardness of this belt. He said that scarcity of ration was one of the biggest problems being faced by the people of this region. Furthermore, failure of the government to provide power to the people has further compounded woes of the masses.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST