Self-rule no day-dreaming, but destined to happen

Ganderbal, Oct 19: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today asserted that the self-rule formula was not day-dreaming, but destined to happen sooner than later.

Addressing a public meeting in this once stronghold of the National Conference (NC), he said unlike autonomy that has eroded over a period of time, self-rule would be safeguarded by adequate guarantees with empowerment.

''Let me assure you this is not day-dreaming, but destined to happen sooner than later,'' he added.

Mr Sayeed, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Patron, said Jammu and Kashmir was at the threshold of far-reaching consequences and the occasion was appropriate for a meaningful breakthrough to usher in a peaceful and prosperous future.

He said the PDP has to play a critical role and discharge great responsibility in the common quest for peace in the region.

Right form its birth in 1999, the PDP has played a historical role with great sincerity and conscientiousness that helped in creating a feasible environment for the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue, the former Chief Minister added.

Carrying forward the quest for peace, Mr Sayeed said he would take this message from the people of Jammu and Kashmir to the world leaders during his forthcoming visit to the United Nations.

''Enough blood has been shed in the state during the past more than one decade of turmoil. The time has come to put an end, once for all, to human tragedies in Jammu and Kashmir,'' he added.

The PDP leader said all the parties concerned must come out of the shells and embark on the quest for honour, peace and prosperity of and its people.

He said the PDP will push its agenda for peaceful and dignified resolution of the Kashmir issue which it believes was appropriately embodied in its self-rule formula.

''I will not boast or claim that the PDP is the only party that would resolve the wrangled problem. But, given the credibility the party has established among the masses, it definitely has a crucial role to play in carving out a new prosperous future for the state.'' Mr Sayeed said the PDP's alliance with the Congress was a part of a larger objective and not an instrument of power sharing.

In her address, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti highlighted the broader contours of the self-rule formula, saying the proposal envisaged empowerment to the people of all regions and sub-regions on every front be it political, constitutional, social and economic. The formula accommodated regional aspirations of the state, including geographically disadvantageous areas, she added.

Ms Mufti sought compensation in lieu of the Indus Water Treaty, saying the state has suffered a huge financial loss due to it.

These natural water resources need to be utilised for the overall economic development of the state, she added.

Speaking on the occasion, former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baigh lauded the political vision of the people who extended massive support to the peace initiative launched by the PDP in 2002.

The party was fully ceased of problems of the unemployed youth, Mr Baigh said, adding it was formulating a comprehensive plan for generating avenues for the unemployed youth and would plead for absorbing nearly 1.50 lakh of them during the next two years.

Senior PDP leader and former Tourism Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir enumerated the achievements and steps taken by the coalition government for providing succour to the suffering masses.

Mr Mir said the party successfully achieved the goal for providing a sense of security to the people and launched development process in all the three regions of the state in a balanced manner.

The efforts put in by the PDP-led coalition government yielded encouraging results for revival of tourism in the state, he added.

Mr Mir said the tourists resorts were renovated and showcased to the world as the best destinations.

UNI