Democracies do not flourish under gun: Mehbooba

Srinagar, May 28 (UNI) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti today said democracies have never flourished under the shadow of the gun and Jammu and Kashmir was no exception.

''Political stability in Jammu and Kashmir could only be ensured through empowerment and involvement of the people in the democratic processes on their own, and not by gun as is being given to understand,'' Ms Mufti told a public meeting at Tangdhar in border district of Kupwara in north Kashmir.

She said the participation of the people in the democratic processes has nothing to do with the presence of troops and any such view was only a snub to the public yearning for dignified peace.

After Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's commitment to examine the whole issue, certain interventions only tantamount to undermining this critical issue of public importance, the PDP president added.

She said the confidence of the masses would shake if the critics of troop reduction do not understand the underlying need that time has come to restore fundamental rights of the people to the maximum and allow them to chalk out their destiny through democratic means.

Ms Mufti said the PDP's participation in the coalition government was guided by the people's mandate and the party would never compromise on its principles concerning interests of the masses.

''Our participation in the coalition government is not for power-sharing, but for safeguarding the interests of the people and facilitating a dignified resolution of their problems,'' she added.

The PDP chief said her party would pursue pro-people objectives at whatever cost. ''We are not here to enjoy the luxuries of the power, but to do justice with the people's mandate,'' she added.

Ms Mufti said after ceasefire along borders as consequence of the growing India-Pakistan amity and people-friendly measures, the PDP was of the view that time has come that legitimate political activity and social reconstruction should be given priority. Calling for speedy measures to address the physical isolation of the area for ameliorating the conditions of the people, Ms Mufti asked the state government to take immediate steps for construction of a tunnel near Sadhna Pass.

She also called for speeding up rehabilitation of earthquake victims who were still living in highly deplorable conditions.

Ms Mufti was accompanied by party functionaries Nizamuddin Bhat, Basharat Bukhari and Peerzada Mansoor Hussain who also addressed the gathering besides local leaders Advocate Abdul Haq Khan and Raja Manzoor Ahmad.

These leaders said the state administration has failed to disburse the promised relief to earthquake victims of the area.

They also demanded clearance for use of mobiles in the area and hoped that the state government would take necessary steps to open a joinery mill coupled with band-saw units urgently needed by the people of the area to reconstruct their houses.

The PDP leaders demanded speedy process of granting ST status to Paharis and other privileges to other backward classes.

UNI