news details |
|
|
| Mufti is back to mentors | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Mar 6
As the state assembly elections are round the corner, the Peoples Democratic Party patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is back in the company of his old friends and patrons who have often turned tide in his favour.
When political circles talk about the clout of Mufti in Delhi, the most of the influence flows from two former Prime Ministers who have been his friends, guides and mentors all the way. In all difficult circumstances, Mufti has always found former Prime Ministers VP Singh and Inder Kumar Gujral on his right side.
In 2002 too, during the government formation crisis, the former Prime Minister Singh and Gujral mounted pressure on the Congress president Sonia Gandhi which turned tide in favour of Mufti. This time again, Mufti is camping in Delhi and meeting top ruling leaders besides the former Prime Ministers.
In his meeting the central leaders, according to a party spokesman, Mufti said that a defining moment has arrived for the amicable settlement of the Kashmir issue, and it is time to focus on the resolution of the problem by adding substance to the peace process through substantial confidence building measures.
In his extensive deliberations with several central leaders including former Prime Ministers I K Gujral & V P Singh, External Affairs Minister Parnab Mukherjee and Home Minister Shivraj Patil, the PDP Patron reiterated that the fast-changing equations in and around Jammu & Kashmir offer the country's leadership a great opportunity to make India more at peace not only with its neighbors, but also with itself. "The emerging encouraging scenario offers a momentous opening for conceiving an exceptional grand strategy for the country and the region in Jammu & Kashmir," he said and added that the Indo-Pak peace process has provided a strong foundation to build upon and it could be further fortified by reconciling the past misgivings and leaving for future generations a different prosperous world.
Sayeed said the people of Jammu & Kashmir, who have suffered immense tragedies because of the Indo-Pak hostility, could greatly gain from the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries. "I visualize a space of dignity, opportunity and prosperity for the people of Jammu & Kashmir in the paradigm of friendship and cooperative relationship between India and Pakistan," he said and added that the peace process has already created a notable impact as it has brought into focus the convergence of our interests rather than the hackneyed rivalries.
The PDP Patron stressed the need for accelerating the pace of implementing J&K-specific confidence building measures that are in tune with the State's fast improving security situation. "Alongside cross-LoC confidence building measures, the Government of India must pep up the intra-state confidence building process starting with thinning the strength of troops deployed on internal security duties in Jammu & Kashmir," he said and added that the special powers given to the security forces must also be revoked completely to allow local institutions take charge of the fast-changing situation and consolidate it further through the involvement of the people. "We can't wait till the last gun falls silent and must trust the people of the State," he said.
Mufti, during his discussion with the central leaders also dwelled in detail on the emerging political situation in Pakistan and its impact on Jammu & Kashmir. He also dwelt on the prevailing political and security situation in Jammu & Kashmir. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
