Jammu, Jan 29: Patron of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Chief Minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, on Sunday said Jammu and Kashmir turned into a virtual jail after 1947.  
 “India and Pakistan got independence in 1947 but Jammu and Kashmir was turned into a virtual jail. It was the greatest tragedy in the history of JK,” Mufti said while addressing a public meeting at Kalu Chak here.
 He claimed that only PDP could provide a government that can empower people in true sense. “My dream is to make JK a state of opportunities, prosperity where people could live a dignified life,” he added. 
 Criticizing National Conference (NC), Mufti said all the projects which were started during PDP-Congress coalition government’s regime were put on halt by the NC  led government.
 Highlighting achievements of PDP government Mufti said that it was during the three year tenure of his party when many prestigious projects were started. These included four laning of Highway, railway double laning and train to valley, opening up of 60 Degree Colleges in various parts of state, empowerment of LAHDC, monthly pension to old aged widows and handicapped was provided at their door step.  Besides this, 60,000 RET and 16000 Anganwari workers were appointed in a transparent manner. Now NC is taking credit for all these projects instead of consolidating these.
     Mufti added that PDP was formed in 1999 with a view to provide an alternative to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.  The PDP provided dignity of life when it came into power in 2002. It was due to the policies of NC which led to the outbreak of armed rebellion in the state. 
 PDP opened Muzaffarabad and Rawalakote routes. He averred that opening up of Sialkot route was also in his agenda.
 He castigated the NC government “for not empowering” Panchayats. “State Accountability Commission was made defunct and cases of corruption against influential people got stayed in the High Court.”
 On death of NC worker Syed Yousf Shah, he said that independent agency with sufficient powers should probe the entire episode.  
 Referring to India- Pakistan relations, Mufti said, “Both the countries are forging friendly ties and Jammu Kashmir has to play an important role,” he said.
 “It is only the people who can bring change. PDP will continue its efforts to mitigate the suffering of people of all the three regions of the state,” he added.
 Many senior PDP leaders including Ex MP Trilok Singh Bajwa,  MLA Abdul Gaffar Sofi, MLA Julfikar Ali, MLA Dilawar Mir, MLC Choudhary Nijamiddin, Ex MLA Shanti Devi, Depinder Kour,  Ex MLC Ved Mahajan, Choudhary Hussain Ali Baffa, Falail Singh, Daman Bhasin, Suresh Sharma, Anil Gour, Avtar Singh Khalsa, Rangeel Singh were present on the occasion.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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