Jammu, May 16: Asserting that Jammu and Kashmir could earn an amount of Rs 50,000 crores annually if its natural resources were properly utilized, opposition PDP today accused successive National Conference regimes of having bartered the state’s riches by signing unfair agreements.
“According to rough estimates, the state of Jammu and Kashmir would earn an amount of Rs 50,000 crore annually through proper utilization of its natural resources”, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said addressing a public meeting at Banihal in Ramban district.
“It is unfortunate that successive National Conference regimes in the state have bartered natural resources by signing unfair agreements, just for the lust of power,” he said and reiterated his party’s demand for re-negotiating discriminatory water agreements.
He added that PDP in this Self-Rule document has suggested various measures to properly utilise natural resources of the state to make Jammu and Kashmir economically self-reliant.
He said PDP’s aim is to heal the wounds of people of Jammu and Kashmir by restoring their dignity and Honour. “Through its visionary agenda, the PDP had not only created a sense of security among the people but also restored dignity of the common masses by implementing peace and reconciliation policies”, he said.
He reiterated that the solution of Kashmir problem was must for establishing lasting peace and bringing stability in this region.
Mufti, however, said that PDP’s self-rule proposal has the potential to address external and internal dimensions of the problems of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Before 1947 Kashmir was connected, through different routes, with Central and South Asia but all the routes were closed after the accession,” he pointed out and informed the people that self-rule was aimed at opening all traditional routes to make Kashmir a business and trade centre of this region.
Mufti also reiterated demand of his party to re-negotiate discriminatory water agreements signed by the successive National Conference regimes by surrendering natural resources of the state.
Mufti asserted that road map prepared by his party was only practical and viable solution of the Kashmir problem. “Self Rule document is prepared by incorporating wishes and aspirations of all sections of the society”, he said and added that PDP’s road map was aimed at removing regional disparities and treating all regions and sub-regions equally.
Throwing lights on the problems being faced by the residents of erstwhile Doda district, he demanded that locals should be given priority in the new hydro-electric projects to be started in this belt. “Instead of appointing locals on manual jobs, the agencies engaged in executing the hydro-electric projects must open training centres here to train the local unemployed youth so as to engage them on technical jobs”, he demanded.
PDP general secretary Thakur Balbir Singh, legislators Muhammad Rafi, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, Muratza Khan and others addressed the rally.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 16 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 16 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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