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| Dual currency will be reality: Mehbooba | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, June 20: Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti has stressed the need for a credible banking back up for the trans LoC trade to harness its full potential. Mehbooba said it was extremely encouraging that in spite of hassles the trade from Poonch-Rawlakot route had picked up to respectable levels.
Addressing a party meeting, first of a series, to highlight the need for demilitarization of civilian areas and revocation of AFSPA she said introduction of double currency system for facilitating the trade was inevitable now to make it grow beyond the present barter system.
Mehbooba said it was extremely encouraging that in spite of hassles the trade from Poonch-Rawlakot route had picked up to respectable levels. ‘And it only points to the unlimited potential the reopening of trade between two parts of the erstwhile state held for the traders and industrialists, she said and added that it was a positive development that more voices were now adding strength and substance to the PDP vision.
The PDP president said trade and travel across the iron wall of LoC, though still in a nascent stage had become possible only as a result of the leading role the people of Jammu and Kashmir had played in inspiring the governments of India and Pakistan to give peace a try in place of war and hostility.
Acknowledging the peace process, Mehbooba said the initiative taken by the Vajpayee government and taken forward by Dr. Manmohan Singh had resulted in ceasefire that had sustained ever since and at times in the face of serious setbacks elsewhere. ‘This, she said brought unprecedented relief to people living in the border areas and made trade and travel possible.
Mehbooba said the people living in border areas across the state would appreciate better the value of peace between India and Pakistan. ‘Mauled by shelling, firing and constant threat of dislocation, she said these people had experienced a sigh of relief from 2003 for the longest period since 1947.
And it would be easy for them to understand the meaning and importance of the PDP message for demilitarization of civilian areas and revocation of draconian laws that take away the right to challenge any action of the security forces.
Referring to the Self Rule concept of the PDP, Mehbooba said this aims to empower various regions and sub regions with administrative and economic authority would settle once for all the issues of balanced and equitable development of the state.
Accrediting party for the equal development of state PDP president said during its brief stint of three years the PDP led government had set new standards of equitable development and political participation of all regions.
She maintained her party’s demand for revocation of AFSPA and removal of security forces from civilian areas and common man’s life should be seen in its perspective. ‘The demand,’ she said, ‘was made in a completely changing scenario when the levels of militant violence had drastically reduced and people had returned to democratic means with a new dream and hope.’
She said it was however ironic that while everyone was now forced to endorse the PDP viewpoint, the party was being criticized by some for having raised the issue.
For the BJP, she pointed out it was particularly unfair to find fault with the party program after their supreme leader Atal Behari Vajpayee not only endorsed it but even implemented some of its components like the ceasefire and opening up to Pakistan with a stunning impact on the region.
Mehbooba said the economic vision presented by the PDP in its Self Rule document provides pragmatic solution to our problems. Unemployment in the state she stressed can not be tackled unless our resources are freed from exploitation.
Sartaz Madani, Mansoor Ahmed, Rangil Singh, Trilok Singh Bajwa, Ved Mahajan, Balbir Singh, Daman Bhasin, Asgar Ali, A K Sawhney, Manjit Singh, Falil Singh, Ashiq Hussain, Shanti Devi, Baldev Singh Slathia, R K Bali, Suram Singh, Jagjit Singh Jagga, Nirmal Singh, Raj Mohani Sharma, Surjeet Nitto, Surjeet Kour and other leaders spoke in the presence of Mehbooba Mufti.
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