PDP, the real political voice of J&K: Mufti

NI Wire

Pulwama

Mon, 20 Apr 2009: 

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today (April 20) said his party’s visionary political and economic agenda has made it to emerge as a genuine, strong and credible regional voice of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. ‘Given its exclusive regional agenda, PDP has now emerged as t real political voice of the State,’ he said.

Addressing a series of election rallies in Rajpora and Pulwama assembly segments of Anantnag parliamentary constituency, Sayeed said when it took over in 2002, PDP-led Coalition Government, not only rekindled a new hope among the State’s distressed, agonized and traumatized masses, but it had also devised and started implementing focused developmental strategies for every area of the State.

“After suffering decades of deprivation and neglect, for the first time all the regions and sub-regions of the State had started tasting development with the change of guard in 2002,” he said and added that the signposts of the landmark developmental initiatives set off between 2002 and 2005 are visible in every nook and corner of the State. “We shall have to restart from where we left in 2005,” he said.

Sayeed said immediately after taking over in 2002, while his Government’s foremost priority was to give a sense of security to the people, the relaxation in the security environment was effectively supplemented with relief through development and economic rejuvenation. He said whether in or outside the power, PDP would work towards implementing its unaccomplished agenda of securing peace, stability and prosperity for Jammu & Kashmir.

“PDP’s agenda is to ensure political, economic, job and social security for the potentially gifted people of the State and we would realize this dream one day,” he said and added that Jammu & Kashmir is not a place that needs packages and doles, it has to be given the freedom and assistance to realize its immense economic potential.

Mufti said there are no limits to the State’s economic potential and in addition to its rich water and mineral resources, the brand name Kashmir has many dimensions – be it tourism, art, handicrafts, forests or agricultural and horticultural products. He said the PDP’s vision of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Jammu & Kashmir outlined in its Self-Rule document is essentially about neutralizing the historical political and economic excesses with the State that were compounded by its natural and political geography.

Stressing the need for quality intra and inter-state connectivity, Sayeed said lack of good road communication network is one of the reasons for the State’s sluggish economic progress. He said construction of the Mughal Road is going to boost the economy of not only Poonch and Rajouri districts but Pulwama and Shopian as well.

Referring to other developmental projects initiated by the PDP-led Coalition Government in Pulwama, Sayeed said his Government had also taken up four-lanning of Gallander-Shopian road and besides establishing the Islamic University at Awantipora, his Government had also planned to set up a super-specialty hospital near Gallandar, Pampore.

“While a degree college for women has already been sanctioned for Pulwama, a polytechnic is also approved for the district,” he said adding that projects have also been approved for upgradation of Pulwama-Tahab-Litter-Sangam and Pulwama-Tahab-Chakoora-Sangam roads.