Mufti leaves for New York on ''important UN mission''

Srinagar, Oct 29 (UNI) Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today left here for New York on an ''important mission'' at the head of a non-official Indian delegation to attend the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The first Muslim Union Home Minister of independent India would also be the first Kashmiri to represent the country at the UN as the head of a non-official delegation. During his 10-day stay in New York, Mr Sayeed would be meeting a cross section of world leaders.

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) statement said the former Chief Minister's visit would be an important step towards accelerating the ongoing peace process in the state.

Mr Sayeed, who is the PDP founder and patron, had recently held detailed discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his predecessors Atal Bihari Vajpayee, I K Gujral and V P Singh, besides UPA Chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi over the political scenario in the strife-torn state and the importance of continuing and consolidating the peace and reconciliation process.

He also informed the people about his ''important mission'' at a public meeting at the Sher-i-Kashmir cricket stadium here yesterday.

At the UN, Mr Sayeed will present the PDP's position paper on the self-rule formula as the final, viable and realistic solution to the Kashmir issue. The proposal encompasses three vital elements -- political satisfaction, economic empowerment and fulfilling regional aspirations -- to workout a final solution to the Kashmir issue with sufficient guarantees.

However, the PDP's self-rule formula has evoked severe criticism from several political parties in the state, including the alliance partner Congress, main opposition National Conference and the BJP.

At the public meeting, the PDP coined a new slogan - ''self-rule ke maene khaas...Ikhtirat ki chabi awaam ke paas (self-rule has a special meaning...key to power is with the people)''.

The meeting, which turned out to be a show of strength by the PDP, was addressed among others by Mr Sayeed and party chief Mehbooba Mufti.

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