Spirit shown by Vajpayee govt must be revived for peace: PDP

, Jun 2: Opposition

today said the spirit demonstrated by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government needs to be revived for a lasting peace and dignified in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had responded positively to yearning for peace. That spirit will have to be revived for a lasting and dignified peace," PDP President said Mehbooba Mufti said. The state would have an entirely new experience of good governance and conflict resolution, if PDP, which already has three MPs in the parliament, gets a chance to form a stable government at the state level, Mehbooba said while addressing a public meeting at Kulgam in south Kashmir.

"Our voice will be heard with respect and reason not only in New Delhi but all across the country," Mehbooba, who won from Anantnag parliamentary constituency said. She said the political problems facing the state will have to be taken head-on and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed would need a decisive mandate to be able to take them up with the national leadership.

She expressed hope that the people of the entire state would vote for the PDP to bring in a government headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed with a clear majority, so that the initiative of change that was started in 2002 (by Vajpayee government) are carried forward. The PDP president said "Omar Abdullah government was now trying to undone the wrongs it had committed during last five and a half years."

"While there were immense problems on account of corruption, mis-governance, lack of development and infrastructure building but unemployment problem is the biggest challenge for the next government," Mehbooba said. "Omar Abdullah government is leaving behind a mess that is difficult to sort out, and its anti-youth policies pose a big challenge on employment front and the ways to engage youth along creative channels."

PTI