news details |
|
|
| Cong must ensure credibility of coalition experiment: Mufti | | ‘Coalition must lead resolution process’ | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Oct 19
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has made it clear that his party's participation in the Coalition Government is guided by the agenda of political empowerment, economic emancipation and social upliftment of the State's masses and it would never compromise on these basic ideals. "The Coalition Government has to adhere to these fundamental principles, as outlined in its Common Minimum Program (CMP), to ensure dignified peace and prosperity of the people in all the regions and sub-regions of the State," he said.
Addressing a day-long meeting of the PDP functionaries here today, Sayeed said his party's vision is to facilitate a peaceful and dignified resolution of the Kashmir issue and ensure that the people of Jammu & Kashmir become equitable stakeholders in the new peaceful and prosperous era South Asian region is about to enter. He said the State Government and its elected representatives have a crucial role in shaping up a politically dignified, economically vibrant and socially stable future for its people. "This was the guiding principle for the Coalition Government when it assumed office in 2002 leading to a quick and noticeable transformation in the ground situation and the public mindset," he said.
Sayeed said unfortunately for some time now the State Government, which was the driving force of the peace initiatives between 2002 and 2005, seems to be dithering on its political and economic agenda leading to mounting public disillusionment and disenchantment with the confidence building process. "At this crucial juncture only a resolute effort propelled by political wisdom and vision could restore the waning public confidence in the process," he said and asked the Central leadership to take bold and concrete measures to ensure continuity and consolidation of the peace process.
Pointing out that the phased reduction of troops and revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) are the essential components of the intra-State confidence building process, Sayeed said the democratic and civil society institutions must now be given full charge of the situation to consolidate the peace process. "We can't wait for the last gun to fall silent and will have to initiate the process of troop reduction, sooner the better," he said and added that it is ironic that for almost two decades we have now AFSPA in force in the State and it must go now. He said lasting peace in the State would be possible only through people's involvement and not through the gun. "Unfortunately certain quarters both within and outside the State are creating an impression that peace in Jammu & Kashmir could be maintained only through gun," he said and added that such a mindset is unfair for the people who have made sacrifices for the cause of peace in the State.
Acknowledging that there are problems of lack of coordination in the functioning of the Coalition Government giving rise to lot of consternation in the rank and file of his party, Sayeed said his party is open on the future course of action. He said the Central leadership of the Congress must address the issues confronting the Coalition in the State to restore the credibility of the coalition experiment in Jammu & Kashmir. "Although various similar coalition arrangements in other parts of the country have met disgusting fate, including the recent one at Karnataka, but PDP has tried to respect the arrangement in a dignified manner," he said and added that it can't be a one-way charity always and Congress as a bigger coalition partner must address the issues of conflict that have cropped up in the State recently.
Sayeed asked the party cadres to gear-up for the upcoming assembly elections as the countdown for the process has already begun. He said the party cadres must go to the masses and educate them about the PDP's policies and programs. He said with its performance in the Government, the party has generated lot of goodwill among the masses and the job of the party cadres is to consolidate the same. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
