Muqam (Chrarisharief) July 26:  Reiterating her party’s commitment to promote the larger vision about Jammu & Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti today said political resolution, empowerment of people and building of a modern state were the thrust areas of this evolving agenda.
“We have resolved to restore to the state its multi dimensional glory, strengthen democratic institutions and convert this state into a modern and flourishing economic entity” she said while addressing a gathering, including Panchs and Sarpanchs here in central Kashmir.
Mehbooba said from day one her party’s mission was to restore and uphold the dignity of every resident of the state while ensuring that a new agenda of permanent peace and sustained progress was initiated.  Even as the party made a very  humble beginning with just  16-members in the Assembly in 2002, the credibility  it gained through small relief and larger policy interventions instantly gave it a credibility that other party’s have forfeited because of their lack of commitment, she said. She said the leadership of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed provided a new and much needed anchor to the political landscape of the state which has helped revived political and economic activity with an entirely new vision and constructive competition.
Mehbooba said our refusal to compromise on the basic issues facing the state ultimately helped in projecting resolution of the lingering Kashmir problem as a mainstream concern around which a general consensus had now evolved. The PDP leadership created a discourse away from the beaten track which had held the state hostage for decades and multiplied the miseries of the people. “ Talking of the resolution is no more considered an antinational act after 2002 for a ruling party which subsequently  was picked by other parties as well” she remarked .
She said in 2002 the prime concern of the people was the security of life, property and honor which needed not just strong administrative measures to tackle but it involved changing a mind set that looked at every Kashmiri as a suspect. Along with this there were huge issues of infrastructure and development. The coalition under Mufti Muhammad Sayeed gave an entirely new direction to governance in order to address all these diverse issues effectively with the result that successive Prime Ministers could come here and reach out to the people and understand their problems.
These highlevel visits however did not remain mere photo opportunities of the past where Kashmiris were driven to just clap them and raise Zindabad slogans while the interests of the state were compromised. “The peace process started in 2003, inspite of ups and downs is sustained by the fact that it was driven by the urge of Kashmiris for a peaceful resolution and that the epicenter of this historic development was  Srinagar and not Dehli or Islamabad alone”, She said and expressed the hope that the foreign ministers conference tomorrow would  respond to the problems faced  by the people of Kashmir especially on account of the siege that they faced after closure of traditional road links. “ we hope the two foreign ministers announce substantial measures to promote further the trade and travel strated in 2005,” She said.
Mehbooba said it was unfortunate that the present government had not been able to carry forward the process. It had wasted all the gains and once again the life and honor of ordinary citizen was endangered by a variety of sources, She regretted.
The recent incidents of killing by the unidentified gunmen, allegations of rape and molestation are an indication of how even the security system in the state has collapsed. This is despite the fact that government has almost completely abandoned major development plans started by our government and failed to initiate new. “The heavy dependence on police and security for its survival has renewed atmosphere of fear and insecurity,” she said.
Referring to corruption Mehbooba said, “It is unfortunate that the Chief Minister has been unable to set an example of probity. It is not enough to say to an ordinary man you prove the case and I will take action.”
She advised the government to initiate investigation into the allegations as that is the standard anticorruption procedure. Otherwise, she cautioned that fingers would continue to rise against individual ministers and functionaries discrediting the entire system.
She said at a time when concern against corruption is rising throughout the country, our state is sinking deeper into it, with our established accountability and vigilance institutions completely defunct for years.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST