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| 'NC pushed state into darkness by selling power projects for its luxuries' | | Eyes on youth, Baig dreams economic growth | | Et Report
Srinagar, Dec 14: Emphasising the need of involving the youth in building a modern and peaceful Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Saturday said the state can come out of its problems of uncertainty and development, only if the younger population is engaged creatively and their talent and energy given a positive direction. Addressing public meetings at Khiram and Mattan in Bijbehara constituency, senior party leader and the former Deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Baig said the National Conference led government, instead of connecting with the youth, choked their voices; exploited their aspirations; hurt their emotions and put brakes on their future advancements.
Senior party leaders, Abdul Rehman Veeri, Mohammad Rafi Mir and Perzada Mansoor Hussain were also present and spoke on the occasion.
Appreciating their talent and passion to work for the larger good of society, Baig said the youth have an important role to play in building a modern, prosperous and peaceful J&K.
This he said can be achieved by giving them a level playing field in the governance system and their voices are heard, not muzzled.
The former Deputy Chief Minister accused the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah of waging war with every section of the society, particularly with the youth. As a young head of the government, he (Abdullah) could not relate himself with the young people around, and instead did everything to silence them. "Youth have been his prime target over the last five years of misrule," he observed. Baig said there was an immediate need of reaching out to the young lot and the PDP, with its youth friendly policies, has always kept its doors open to listen to their grievances. He said the PDP is the party of future and though it has in its agenda the resolution of J&K issue and promotion of interests of all sections of the society but youth constitute the core of the PDP's programme.
He said the party was the first to start a discourse on the exploitation of the state resources, and it will be taken forward so as to restore to us the resources like the power projects that the NC bartered away for power.
He said the National Conference, for its vested interests, has handed over the important power projects to the NHPC without having got anything for the state. "PDP is committed to renegotiate the terms of agreement with NHPC so that interests of the state and its people are safeguarded" said Baig.
He added that the power shortage in J&K is the biggest challenge for any government that succeeds the present coalition and it is the direct result of NC's sell out of resources for its own interest. "The ruling party pushed the state into darkness by selling power projects for its luxuries," he said.
The PDP during its brief tenure in the government not only made headways on all fronts, but people, particularly, the youth started owning the system, which brought about a positive change on the ground," he said adding the youth which, otherwise, faced the maximum brunt of the state oppression, felt safe and secure during the PDP's rule.Beigh said the PDP, with the support of people, streamlined the governance system and transparent recruitment processes were started, in which talent was given preference. Now the things have been reversed and taken back to the pre-2002 era; government jobs are on sale, nepotism is common, there is no transparency and no respect for talent and hardwork. Referring to the BOPEE scam, Beigh said it exposes the deep rot which is eating up the vitals of our society and the NC has been presiding over this devastation from last four decades. Mushtaq Peer, the main accused in the shame, was handpicked by none other than the Chief Minster himself, and was given extensions after extensions, besides serious corruption charges pending against him.
"He (Peer) won't have been resorting to the ugly practises without the knowledge and patronage of his political bosses," he said.Baig said even though PDP had nothing to flaunt any friendship or family ties in Delhi but it secured liberal funding from both NDA and UPA governments in the shape of Prime Minister's packages and Asian Development Bank' assistance.
He said the PDP started new a chapter of economic development in the state; to provide higher educational opportunities for all, schools and colleges were opened and upgraded in hundreds and new universities were started. In order to hone up the skills of youth, so that they could find it easy to get into the job market- skill development technical institutions were started in every nook and corner of the state.
He said the party's Self-Rule agenda is work in progress and its foundation was laid in 2003-with the opening of borders for travel and trade- which helped in great deal to bring India and Pakistan together.
He said the notion got defeated that trucks and buses, that will ply on the Srinagar-Muzzaffrabad, road will carry arms and ammunitions but instead it helped in bridging the gaps between the estranged neighbours.
Calling upon the youth to ensure change on the ground, he said the youth have an important role to play to transform the structure and ensure an accountable, transparent system on the ground and added PDP is the only party having a youth related policy and the party will carry it forward and implement it. |
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