Srinagar, Aug 2: Blaming National Conference (NC) founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah for the present messy situation in the state, Democratic Party (Nationalist) president and Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir has said that Sheikh failed to transform the mindset of people in Jammu and Kashmir.
Terming Sheikh’s 23 year long struggle for plebiscite as the main reason for the present situation, Mir said; “He (Sheikh) was the tallest leader but he failed to transform the mindset of people which had developed during the plebiscite movement.”
“Sheikh Sahab himself termed his 23 year of struggle for plebiscite as political wilderness. He realized it and signed the 1975 accord which was an appropriate decision,” Mir told a local news gathering agency KNS.
The Minister cautioned the people to beware of political parties and politicians who have always skirted the real issues affecting the people and use emotional slogans to hoodwink them.
“These self seeking politicians have never addressed the real issues concerning the welfare of the masses and always raked up emotional issues. Youth of the state are facing a bleak future and need of the hour is to evolve youth friendly policies so that they can be provided a dignified and secured life,” he added.
Mir said that people of J&K have no concern with the problems between India and Pakistan. “Kashmiris want peace and development,” he said.
Berating NC’s autonomy resolution and PDP’s Self-Rule formula as “emotive slogans”, Mir said; “Autonomy and Self-Rule are just impracticable, emotive and sensational slogans having no relevance in the context of present scenario.”
“There is no substance in these formulas to ameliorate socio-economic conditions of people of the state. People want peace, prosperity and development,” Mir said and added the only viable formula is to empower the common masses economically.
“Economic independence must take precedence over political independence. When we are economically dependent on some one else we can’t achieve anything. We have to become self-reliant,” Mir said.
Emphasizing the need for self-reliance, the DP (N) president said; “Everybody in the state has to contribute. Separatists and mainstream have to come on a single platform to achieve self-reliance. If we have to give dignity to the people, self-reliance is a must.”
On alleged excesses by troops, the DP(N) president said, “Excesses do take place but there is a mechanism to check it and we have to strengthen such a mechanism.”

Lastupdate on : Thu, 2 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
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