Youth are PDP's biggest strength: Mufti

Srinagar, Nov 22 (UNI) Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said the youth have to play a crucial role in shaping up politically emancipated and economically vibrant future for the state.

Speaking at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the PDP Youth Wing here, he asked the members to fully activate its cadres and take policies and programmes of the party to the grassroots level.

The meeting, presided by the PDP patron, was convened to take stock of the preparations for the state-level youth convention at Jammu. In the run-up to the convention, the PDP has started mobilising its youth wing.

Mr Sayeed said the state's youth had great expectations with the PDP as the party had represented their just concerns and aspirations in a dignified manner. ''The youth are our party's great strength.

The PDP will safeguard their interests at whatever level,'' he said.

The former Chief Minister said the PDP was formulating a broad policy for the all-round welfare of the state's youth that would be made a part of its Self-Rule document. The more than decade long turmoil has not only made the state's youth to suffer immensely, but also deprived them of the fruits of globalisation and economic liberalisation sweeping the region, he added.

The PDP patron said the time had come when the youth of Jammu and Kashmir must also become the beneficiaries of the region's fast expanding economy.

Mr Sayeed said the youth of Jammu and Kashmir could be brought out of the mentality of siege by allowing them to freely connect to the outside world through knowledge and trade.

''History of the sub-continent makes it imperative for both India and Pakistan to not only resolve their mutual conflicts but also forge a healthy cooperation towards achieving the desired levels of human development,'' he added.

The former Chief Minister said in its ultimate form of the liberalisation of borders, the PDP envisioned a bus ticket to serve as a passport and visa to travel into any part of the erstwhile state and beyond. ''This liberty to travel freely in the region is linked with the economic future of the state in a significant measure,'' he added.

Earlier, the Executive Members highlighted the concerns of the youth and called for their greater involvement in the PDP's decision -making processes to formulate futuristic policies for the party.

UNI