Hiranagar, (Jammu), May 27: Opposition People's Democratic Party on Sunday said any solution to the vexed issue of Kashmir should be found within the framework of the Indian Constitution and called for stronger Centre-State relations.
      "Today the people will demand self-rule and tomorrow they will ask for aazadi, this way we cannot find a solution to our problem. The real solution of Kashmir issue lies within the Constitution of India," PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed said.
      "We should insist on a strong relationship with the Centre. Only then development will come about," Mufti said, addressing a public rally in the border area of Hiranagar in Kathua district.
      The PDP leader, however, said that his party would not stay silent till a solution is reached and added that it would keep on working for the "rightful demands of the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir".
      In a statement, Mufti said that PDP had pioneered a peace and reconciliation process which was endorsed by the successive regimes at New Delhi and Islamabad. 
      "PDP has shown in the past that it can facilitate the resolution process with prudence, and it is ready to shoulder the responsibility of taking the process to its logical conclusion," Mufti asserted and reminded the people that it was due to efforts of PDP that residents of border areas were living peaceful life.
      Castigating the ruling National Conference, Mufti claimed that development in Jammu and Kashmir had come to a halt under the Omar Abdullah-led government.
      "The state's condition has gone from bad to worse. There is no redressal of grievances, unemployment is on the rise and so is corruption," he said.      Senior PDP leader, Muzaffar Hussain Baig, who was also present on the occasion, claimed that the condition of the state had deteriorated since the present government took over the administrative reins.
            "The youth of the state have been rendered jobless, the corruption is increasing, there is shortage of drinking water. People are not even getting basic amenities," Baig said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 IST