Surankote, (Poonch) July 8: Former Chief Minister and patron of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Friday said that 2002 accord with Congress was conditional and the government was formed only after the party agreed to the basic demands of his party.
 “There was a delay of more than one month in formation of the government after 2002 election only because I had made my terms and conditions clear to Congress at that time”, Mufti said, while addressing a public meeting here.
 He said that his party had formed an alliance with the Congress only after it agreed to find a permanent and sustainable solution to vexed Kashmir issue, disbanding of Special Operations Group (SOG) and release of political prisoners.
 Asserting that his party was capable of fighting ruling National Conference democratically Mufti said that he had always sacrificed power for the welfare of people. “It was my party which even persuaded Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) to shun its hard stand over Kashmir issue.”
 “I have enjoyed power at the highest level both at center and state but have never made false and hollow promises,” Mufti said.
 He said that his party

would wait for the verdict of people till next assembly elections.
 “Achievements of the previous PDP-Congress government are very much visible on the ground. Previous regime with the support of the people had translated its promises into realities,” he said.
 Mufti said construction of the historic Mughal Road during his tenure was noticeable achievement of the previous PDP-Congress regime.  He observed that Mughal Road would emerge as road of prosperity in this hilly belt. “Poonch and Rajouri will become the gateway of Kashmir after this track will be opened for full-fledged traffic,” he added.
 He said that PDP was committed to revive Jammu and Kashmir's unique distinctiveness in the region. Many intra and inter-state routes were opened during previous PDP-Congress regime,” he added.
 "While on one hand opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad, Poonch-Rawalkote roads for movement of people and goods  has provided relief to the divided families, the opening of Mughal road is a windfall for the people of Rajouri and Poonch,” he said.
 Former Chief Minister said that people of Poonch and Rajouri had suffered a lot in 1947 and 1965 and this region remained backward and underdeveloped due to the “wrong policies of successive National Conference regimes.”
  “We don’t want to highlight what we have done for this region, everything is visible on the ground,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST