Jammu, July 10: Accusing ruling National Conference of making mockery of democracy, former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party patron, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Sunday said his party and Congress had better understanding and initiated various historic initiatives in the state.
“The condition of the state would have been different today in case PDP and Congress alliance continued”, Mufti Sayeed said while addressing a party convention, here.
Coming down heavily upon the National Conference, he said the party had always believed in the policy of ‘Ya Hum Hai Ya Koi Nahi”, but the misconception of its leadership was changed in 2002, when PDP formed government and provided alternative to the people.
“During our time, we did not kept people in jails and brought peace without using police machinery. But today even an old person is picked up and sent to lock up. There are cases when the Court sets a person free, he is still kept in custody, which is totally unjustified”, he said.
Mufti said, “India is considered as one of the biggest democracy in the world, but what message will the incidents like picking people and lodging them in jails under PSA send to the outside world”.
Talking about the resolution of Kashmir issue, Mufti said till aspirations of the people of the state were not taken seriously, New Delhi would not be able to bring peace in the state. “People have to be involved if leadership in New Delhi wants peace in the JK. Aspirations of the people matter in any solution of Kashmir imbroglio”, he said.
Mufti said he would not allow peace process to get derailed and urged people to support the party in building strong J&K.
Regarding the present situation in Pakistan, Mufti said despite long years of military dictatorship, the civil society had rejected them and demand was being raised to bring real democracy which would have bearing on Jammu and Kashmir.
Praising UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, PDP patron said all of them had ‘endorsed’ the vision and policy of the party which had ‘greatly helped’ in bringing India and Pakistan close to each other.
“We changed even the mindset of BJP towards Kashmir paving way for the sustained dialogue. We will not allow this process to get derailed”, he said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST