[8:19pm, 27/10/2014] Suhail Baba: MUFTI CAUTIONS AGAINST FRAGMENTATION OF VOTES SAYS ASSEMBLY POLLS AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRESS FOR POLITICAL RIGHTS, CONSTITUTIONAL DISTINCTION Srinagar, Oct 27 (KNS): Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Monday said the upcoming assembly elections offer a historic opportunity to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to assert their identity, political rights and constitutional distinction. Addressing a party workers convention of Sonwar assembly constituency, he said the PDP provides a platform for reconciliation, resolution and reconstruction and if voted to power it would carry forward the mission for peace and dignity that it had undertaken in 2002. “Upcoming elections are crucial in many senses and the people could utilize this opportunity to assert their democratic rights to give a positive turn to the situation which has witnessed deterioration during last six years,” the PDP patron said. Mufti said the grey areas in the political scene of the state have disappeared and the people are now fully aware about the performance of every party seeking their votes. “I hope the vote this time is used with wisdom and discretion so as to elect a party with a clear majority which can address the challenges facing the state,” he said. Mufti said the implications of the upcoming elections are beyond government formation and the results would be crucial to safeguarding interests of the state, resolution of Kashmir problem and securing the rights of J&K within the Union. Cautioning the people against fragmentation of votes, Mufti said it is important to convey a message of unity and political maturity in order to grapple with the challenges and problems facing the state. He said the fragmentation of votes had in the last elections resulted in the formation of a government which neither had any political agenda nor a commitment towards the people of the state. “Mere numerical strength in assembly by making alliances without a political objective or development goals cost the state dearly during the last six years.We need to come out of the fixation that coalitions are inevitable,” he added. Mufti said if at the national level and in major states like UP, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu people can give a decisive mandate to a single party for effective governance there is no reason why Jammu and Kashmir can’t do similarly as we have a history of giving massive mandates in the past to one single party. “This time PDP eminently qualifies for people’s trust and vote,” Mufti said. The PDP patron said his party has during the last decade or so grown as a platform for connecting various regions of the state and has tried to pull the state politics out of the traditional mode which often ended up in lack of cohesion between different regions and communities. PDP, he said is now a party with a strong cadre and political base throughout the state and can genuinely claim to address the issues facing all regions and sub regions. Mufti said the party is the only antidote to the communal polarization that unfortunately marked the last general elections in the state. “When we talk of resolving Kashmir we mean establishing friendly relations between our country and Pakistan and making Jammu and Kashmir a bridge between the two countries rather than a bone of contention which the two armies have been fighting each other for the last seven decades causing immense misery to people of all regions of the state,” he said. Mufti said the next six years are crucial for not only ensuring good governance but accomplishing the challenging task of rebuilding safe, sustainable and planned infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir especially in the aftermath of the devastating floods that hit the state last month. He said the disaster caused by the flood could be turned into an opportunity by a government with full mandate and sincere agenda to rebuild the state and its economy in a way that it could in reality enjoy the amenities and avenues of growth available to 21st century societies. Senior leader and MP Tariq Hameed Karra while addressing the convention said the state was ready for a change but the disastrous performance of the state govt in managing the September floods and its aftermath has added urgency to the need for such change. He said contrary to the impression created by the NC the voter turnout this time would be much higher as the people would come out in larger numbers to vote this government out and punish it for its six year long misdeeds. The Party Chief Spokesperson, Naeem Akhtar; Mohammad Ashraf Mir, district president, Srinagar and MLC, who is also the party’s candidate for Sonwar constituency; Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, Chief Election Coordinator and State Secretary, also addressed the meeting. District vice president, Mohammad Maqbool Beig; Zonal president, Mohammad Shafi Mir and Mohammad Latif Mir also spoke on the occasion. [8:20pm, 27/10/2014] Suhail Baba: MALIK TERMS LONDON ‘MILLION MARCH’ A WELCOME STEP HAILS KASHMIRIS FOR OBSERVING SHUTDOWN Srinagar, Oct 27 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik Monday termed London ‘Million March’ for freedom of Jammu Kashmir is a welcome step and efforts like this should continue in future also. ‘London Million March for freedom of Jammu Kashmir is a welcome step and efforts like this should continue in future also. On 27th October 1947 India by invading Kashmir by using its military might actually mutilated the very concept of its own freedom struggle against British rule. 27th October 1947 is an ugly day for Kashmiris. Kashmiris through their complete protest shutdown have once again reiterated their commitment for freedom struggle,” he said in a statement to KNS. Malik, who was placed under house arrest last night at his sister’s residence at Bagat I Kani Pora while condemning arrests, house arrests, curfew and restrictions in various localities, said, “27th October remembers us that how India is ridiculing its own freedom struggle and undermining the freedom of a nation. How its various governments failed to fulfill their own commitments regarding the resolution of this dispute till date.” While hailing the efforts of Kashmiris living in Britain, various political parties including JKLF UK Europe zone, JKLF diplomatic bureau and the organizers of the program including barrister Sultan Mehmood for organizing and making ‘Million March’ a success, Malik said, “London Million March has been a great success and a welcome step for the freedom struggle of Jammu Kashmir. Such kind of programs all over the world will surely help the cause of freedom of Jammu Kashmir.” He hoped that Kashmiris living across the globe will keep on organizing such peaceful programs in future also. The JKLF chairman said that it was important to tell the international community that trade, commerce, diplomatic relations and common agenda of nations should not come in the way of justice and freedom of nations. “It is also important to communicate to the international community that unresolved issues and disputes cause distress and disunity among the humans and are also promoting more and more violence. Therefore it is necessary to end disputes and resolve all issues including the issue of Jammu Kashmir, to ensure durable peace, prosperity and brotherhood among the people living across the globe,” he said. While hailing the people of Kashmir for shutdown today he said, “October 27 is an ugly day for us because our freedom was snatched by the might of military on this very day in 1947.” He said that people of Kashmir through their peaceful protest have once again reiterated their commitment and passion for the freedom struggle. “A nation that has sacrificed its thousands and thousands of people for its freedom cannot be kept away from achieving its desired goal for long and history of the world bears a witness to this fact,” Malik added. [8:21pm, 27/10/2014] Suhail Baba: NC ENVISIONS COMFORTABLE MAJORITY SAYS COALITION CULTURE NOT CONDUCIVE FOR J&K Jammu, Oct 27 (KNS): Exuding confidence about massive mandate to National Conference in the upcoming elections, senior party leaders Monday said coalition culture is not conducive for a state like Jammu and Kashmir given the magnitude of problems confronted on various counts. “A strong and stable government alone can meet the challenges and assuage the aspirations of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh”, NC Provincial President Jammu Devender Singh Rana said while addressing Provincial Election Campaign Committee of the party at Sher-e- Kashmir Bhavan here, this morning. He asked the functionaries and workers at the grass roots level to work for eliciting the support of the people for thumping majority to NC and said the coming months are going to witness the party emerging in its full glory given the exemplary work of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah despite numerous odds. He said fractured mandate has proved detrimental to the overall interests of the State and this era has to be given farewell once forever. Rana appreciated the ‘unprecedented enthusiasm’ in the party cadre, especially the youth and said this spirit has to be channelized in proper direction. “The policies and programmes of the NC have to be disseminated in the length and breadth of the state with focus on the achievements of Omar led government during the past nearly six years. This tenure of the Chief Minister has been a success story of steering the state, especially the Kashmir Valley from morass to peace, prosperity and development,” he said and hoped the ensuing years will see these significant gains getting consolidated and steering the state to new pinnacles of development. Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Planning and Development Ajay Sadhotra urged the party functionaries to work for big victory to NC, saying this is the only party that can take care of the three regions of the state and their sub-regions. The Minister elaborately dwelt on major achievements of the NC led government which include holding of panchayat elections, introduction of revolutionary laws like Right to Information and Public Services Gurantee Acts, measures for generating employability, launching of Himayat and Udaan programmes for unemployed youth, skill development programme and various other initiatives for women and weaker sections of the people. State Vice President Mr Surjeet Singh Slathia asked the workers to educate people about the nefarious designs of divisive and deceptive elements whose only objective is to gain power by hook or crook. He made a mention of path-breaking initiatives taken by National Conference for achieving holistic development of the state. Senior NC leaders Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari, Malik Abdul Gani, Th Rachpal Singh and others also addressed the senior functionaries and urged them to gear up in a big way for the massive democratic exercise. They hoped that National Conference will register an enviable victory and prove those wrong who were indulging in disinformation campaign against the party. Senior leaders Rattan Lal Gupta, Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy, Th. Kashmira Singh, Sheikh Bashir Ahmad, Ajaz Jan, MLA, Bimla Luthra MLA, Jagjeevan Lal, Ghulam Hyder Malik, Vijay Laxami Dutta, Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, Romy Khajuria, Taranjeet Singh Tony, Bashir Ahmad Wani, Dr. Shamshad Shan, Ch. Salam Din, Chandu Ram, Dr. Gafoor, Devender Singh Bindu and others also addressed the meeting. The meeting chalked out a detailed strategy for the ensuing elections.
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 14:52:14 +0000
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