Kupwara June 15: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said the state can be retrieved from its miseries only through a positive shift in political focus and priorities.
 Addressing panchs and sarpanchs of Lolab constituency here in north Kashmir, she said people had placed great faith in this panchayat election, the elected representatives will have to work very hard to live up to the expectations  of people.
 She said while these representatives have to play a very important role in the grass roots development, the state can be retrieved from its miseries only through a positive shift in our political focus and priorities.
 “The vision offered by Mufti Muhammad Sayeed with a political, administrative and economic model is the one that is most practical and acceptable to most stakeholders” she said and mentioned how under the previous PDP-Congress coalition an enabling atmosphere had been created that helped successive governments at the centre to take major peace initiatives and confidence building measures.
 Referring to “unprecedented development” made under the Mufti government, Mehbooba said Prime Minister’s economic package had provided funds for all sectors which “unfortunately” the present government has not been able to spend gainfully.
On previous occasions such understanding between the state and centre remained confined to matters of political power whereas Mufti used it for an institutionalized development of the state. Similarly for the first time multilateral funding was obtained from the Asian Development Bank for core infrastructure development like roads, bridges, flyovers, sewerage and drainage.
She however regretted that the present coalition had been unable to “tap even these available resources” not to speak of “initiating any new projects.”
Special poverty alleviation and employment generation programmes were introduced in Kupwara and alternate connectivity was provided as in the shape of much needed Lolab–Bandipore road link, she added.
“Despite being in power for more than three decades National Conference only exploited the sentiments of people.  Kupwara which had persistently helped the party was only exploited in return she pointed out, and completely handed over to task force between 1996 and 2002”.
“Today almost three years in power NC has failed even to provide adequate ration and other amenities to these areas to sustain themselves,” she added.
Dismissing the renewed “NC noises about accession and autonomy” Mehbooba cautioned the ruling party about the futility of trying to mislead public opinion and diverting attention from serious issues of governance and human rights. “While everybody now echoes the need for a political settlement of Kashmir after the lead provided by Mufti,  NC is trying to distort the debate with shrill noises that mean nothing either to the people of the state or the resolution effort” she said.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 15 Jun 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 IST