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| PDP opens self rule to debate | | Mufti asks PM to rejig Indo- Pak relations | | Early Times Report
Srinagar Sept 27- A public debate on the Self Rule formula of the Peoples Democratic Party was started today from Pulwama. In this fresh round of the party’s awareness campaign about its political, economic and developmental agenda representatives of the civil society will discuss its pros and cons in the context of the final resolution of Kashmir issue.
The day long seminar was inaugurated by the party president MehboobaMufti who released a pair of pigeons in a gesture symbolizing the forces of peaceful resolution that the Self Rule document visualizes. Representatives of the civil society including intellectuals, academicians, professionals, prominent citizens and the youth from
Pulwama and Shopian districts participated.
In his valedictory address to the seminar, the party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said Self rule formula was grounded in the contemporary realities of the sub- continent but takes into account the historical context of the problem without getting bogged down by the decades old baggage of hatred, wars, violence, political deceit and un kept promises. “We will have to cut through the frozen mindsets to lead our state out of the miseries without compromising our dignity, self respect or economic interests” he said.
Mufti said Self Rule could to a large extent neutralize the negative fall out of partition that had cost the state heavy in terms of emotional, political, social and economic problems. He said while it would effectively remove the sense of siege that had gripped the state post 1947 it would also lead to a virtual reunion of the two sides separated by LOC.
Expressing his anxiety over the current downslide in Indo Pak relations Mufti said the two countries will have to accede to the aspirations of the people of the state if we are able to put up a united and well considered plan for resolution, an attempt being made by the PDP through its mass contact program over the Self Rule. Mufti said Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was expected to take measures that are aimed not just to secure the gains of the peace process so far but widen its scope to make a real difference to the lives of people.
In her inaugural remarks the PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said as a first step to the realization of the concept of self rue it was necessary to revoke completely AFSPA and demilitarize the civilian areas of the state. She said the government itself had placed
number of active militants in the state at 700 and it was not understandable as to why establishment was keen on retaining the same level of troops in the state that was required two decades when thousands of young men had taken up arms. She said Kashmir society would continue to simmer with anger and discontent until the civil
society was not provided unrestricted space for asserting its rights without the security forces breathing down their necks.
Senior party leader Muzaffar Hussain Beig who delivered the key note address explained various legal, constitutional and political components of the self rule proposal. He also replied to questions from the audience in a lively question answer session through which the participants expressed keen interest in various dimensions of Kashmir problem and its resolution.
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