Mehbooba says PDP-Congress alliance pragmatic

Anantnag, May 18 (UNI) A few days after she hinted at mid-term polls in Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti today said her party's alliance with the Congress was pragmatic and guided by a common minimum programme.

But, at the same time, the party would not shy away from highlighting the problems of the people as it was answerable to them, she added.

Addressing a rally here, Ms Mufti suggested that the government should seriously consider the recruitment of adequate number of youth of the state in regular police force on the pattern of Punjab.

The existing system of appointing SPOs and VDCs has become counter-productive and at times they have fallen prey to the militants, she added.

The PDP President said the regular appointment of police personnel would go a long a way in ensuring internal security in the state, including the hilly and remote areas.

Highlighting the performance of the PDP-led coalition government, Ms Mufti expressed satisfaction over the positive change that had emerged at the ground level.

The people were demanding development while projecting the miseries from militancy when the PDP assumed power in 2002, she added.

The PDP Chief said the positive trend in the atmosphere need to be consolidated and the time was ripe for finding a long-lasting peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue and called for building public and political opinion across the country.

''Once peace returns to Kashmir, South Asian countries could catch up with the rest of the world in garnering the benefits of growing inter-state trade and commerce for boosting economy,'' she added.

Addressing a public meeting at Magam in central Kashmir district of Badgam on May 14, Ms Mufti had reportedly said the mid-term polls in the state could not be ruled out.

She said some ''dramatic changes'' were expected in the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir after the second round-table conference, convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, here on May 24-25.

Deputy Chief Minister and senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig, at the same meeting, alleged that conspiracies were being hatched to create differences the within PDP-Congress coalition.

''The coalition has stood the test of time and will not be impacted by the nefarious designs of certain individuals,'' he said.

Mr Baig claimed that some individuals in the Congress were working against the spirit of coalition.

''But, these attempts will be foiled. If the PDP, at any stage, finds that its agenda was getting diluted, the party will prefer people over power,'' he said.

Mr Sayeed said the mid-term poll was a propaganda spread by those frustrated with the successful Congress government in the state.

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