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| Shopian redefined value of human life, honor in Kashmir: Mufti | | PDP welcomes revival of peace process | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
Srinagar, July 19 (KNS): Welcoming the revival of peace process between India and Pakistan Peoples Democratic Party today expressed the hope that resolution of Kashmir issue would make visible progress in the new atmosphere of understanding.
Addressing people in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said that the meeting of Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers was significant in the backdrop of the softening of attitudes that has been witnessed recently.
She said the fact that the unfortunate bombing incident of Mumbai recently was not allowed to spoil diplomatic and political atmosphere was positive and it looks that the two countries are now determined to frustrate the designs of those who wanted to derail the process.
Mehbooba said the two countries will have to focus on providing facilities to the people of Jammu & Kashmir so that they could break free of the siege that has enveloped the state after partition. In that context, she said it would be most welcome if the much talked about confidence building measures like starting Kargil-Skardu bus service and adding to the existing bus service and trade along the LOC are implemented soon.
She said there was no limit to the prospects of expansion of trade and travel between the two parts of the erstwhile state and it was time that the facility of travel on permits is extended to common people from both sides and not restricting it any more to divided families only.
Similarly, Mehbooba said the trade between two sides has to be made hassle free and more items will have to be added to it with adequate infrastructure, communication and banking facilities provided.
The PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, paying high tributes to the courage and valour of the people of Shopian told the meeting that the historic town had redefined the value of life and honour in Kashmir with its struggle for justice since 2009.
He said Shopian agitation marked a defining moment in Kashmir’s political history as it resulted in a completely new understanding of the problems on ground in Kashmir which had not till then reached the public in rest of the country. He said Shopian generated a new spirit among the people that injustice was not acceptable and that they would raise the voice against it in a democratic manner.
Mufti said even though justice continues to elude Asiya and Nilofar the two unfortunate women of Shopian and the 120 young people who lost their lives last year the massage has gone across clearly that people of the state can defend their democratic rights. He said it was unfortunate that the institutions of our democratic country had failed to come up to their usual standards of professionalism and neutrality when it comes to Kashmir. This attitude, he said can be changed by the people of the state only through greater participation in democratic processes as they did in recent panchayat elections. “No body can deny us our democratic rights, if we utilize democratic institutions with care, caution and seriousness”, he added.
Referring to the ‘atrocities’ committed against the people of Shopian by state government Mufti said there was even a conspiracy to eliminate entire PDP leadership including Mehbooba Mufti during their visit to the town in 2009. He narrated the sequence as to how the government after offering permission to PDP legislators to visit Shopian led by Mehbooba Mufti had withdrawn all police and stage managed protest through paid agents. “It was only because of the security provided by the people to them that PDP leader could come back alive”, he said adding otherwise the government had planned to get them lynched.
Senior PDP leader, Muzaffar Hussain Baig explained how the entire process of development and growth that was started by previous government had virtually been reversed by the NC led coalition. He said areas like Shopian had just started coming on to the development map of the state through an ambitious connectivity plan which included the Mughal road through this area. “But the present government had failed to complete it in time and was not seriously pursuing even the construction of tunnel that would make it traffic worthy round the year.”
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