Will protect JK’s special status, says Mufti Sayeed Files nomination from Anantnag assembly segment KHALID GUL Islamabad ( Anantnag), Nov 19: Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Wednesday said his party would “ safeguard the special status” enjoyed by Jammu and Kashmir by virtue of Article 370. He said even the Parliament cannot scrap this special constitutional position. Mufti was addressing a gathering in Sports Stadium here after filing his nomination papers for forthcoming Assembly elections from Anantnag constituency. Mufti, who was accompanied by senior PDP leader Peer Muhammad Hussain, is fighting to retain his seat. In the 2008 assembly elections, he defeated National Conference candidate, Mehboob Beg. Mufti said his party is committed to safeguard the special status of the state within the Indian constitution. “ We have a separate constitution and flag. Even the Parliament can’t scrap Article 370,” he said. He said the PDP sees the upcoming elections as a “challenge to prevent the divisive and frenzied elements from causing any harm to JK’s special status.”“This election is also for safeguarding the states unique constitutional and pluralistic character by establishing new bonding between different communities and regions,” Mufti said.He asked the people of Kashmir to “provide the PDP a decisive mandate the way Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) was provided across India.”“If people of India, irrespective of caste, can give mandate to Narendra Modi’s BJP, so can you to PDP if you want to see a change in J&K,” he said.He said assuming power has never been his motive. “In 2002, our party had only 16 seats and despite that we formed the government. We advocated peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue and were able to create an atmosphere conducive for dialogue,” Mufti said. He said his party “strived for ending political uncertainty in the state despite running on crutches with Congress support.” “Our party protected the honor and dignity of Kashmiris,” Mufti said. “It is not about bringing PDP to power but bringing a change in the state.”Mufti said the ruling National Conference “always played with the sentiments of Kashmiris. Despite having 62 seats in the 1996 Assembly elections, the autonomy resolution passed by the party in the Assembly in 2000 was thrown into the dustbin by New Delhi.”He said his party “never went to the Centre with a begging bowl.” “But the trust reposed by New Delhi in us helped us in bringing about a sense of security in Kashmir. During our three years rule, we acted as a bridge between India and Pakistan,” he said.Mufti said PDP’s slogan that “not guns but talks are the solution to all the problems became a reality during our rule.”He said his government got liberal assistance from the Centre and the state was ushering towards an era of peace, prosperity and development. “We opened many historical routes—Mughal road, Srinagar-Muzzfarabad road, Poonch-Rawalakote road and we had envisaged Kashmir to be an economic free-zone. However, the process got derailed after Congress took the power seat,” said Mufti.He said the present NC-Congress coalition government “reversed all good work done by PDP and the era was marred by corruption and mis-governance.”Recalling the developmental works initiated in Anantnag town during the PDP rule, Mufti said, “We had no representation in Anantnag constituency, yet Kashmir University’s South Campus was established in High Ground after getting the land vacated from Army.”He said if voted to power, the Anantang town “will be developed on modern lines with all civic amenities and state-of-the-art infrastructure.”Mufti said to ease traffic congestion in the area a separate bypass will be developed for Kokernag-Anantnag circuit. He said besides a medical college which has already been sanctioned for Anantnag, the PDP government will also setup an engineering college in the area.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 04:05:59 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015