Srinagar, July 28: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has asked party workers to rededicate themselves to the agenda of peace & development through dialogue & reconciliation as envisioned by Mufti Muhammad Syeed.
Addressing a mammoth gathering of party workers and leaders at Srinagar’s Sher e Kashmir Park on the eve of Party’s 20th foundation day celebrations, Mehbooba asserted that PDP’s agenda is the only viable roadmap to get the state out of political uncertainty and that the party has proven track record of delivering on its promises.
“Whether it was the government lead by mufti sahib in 2002 or the subsequent times, PDP lead the way towards a peaceful and prosperous J&K. Getting New Delhi and Islamabad to engage, initiating dialogue with the separatists, disbanding Task Force, giving incentives of the improving security situation to common people & ushering in a new era of development in the state have been the hall mark of PDP rule in the state, She said.
Underlining how Mufti Muhammad Sayeed reined in even the staunchest opponents of state’s special status & dialogue, Mehbooba reminded that the Agenda of Alliance between PDP and Bhratiya Janata Party (BJP) saw BJP giving in writing that they won’t touch the special constitutional status of J&K & would pursue a policy of engagement and dialogue with Pakistan and separatists for the resolution of Kashmir problem.
“Till the time we kept BJP engaged, we insulated the state from any step from the centre against our special status. It was no small thing to get Modi Lead union government to do month long ceasefire in the state, appoint a cabinet secretary rank interlocutor and make many offers of unconditional dialogue at the union home minister level. But we did achieve all this,” she added.
Mehbooba said that while the state is witnessing an onslaught on its special status and attempts are being made to disempower our people politically and economically, PDP will fight such designs tooth and nail at any cost.
“We are facing and onslaught. Our special status and identity is being targeted. We are being disempowered politically and economically. In such times, PDP will take lead to fight such designs. You will have to be prepared to fight a long and hard battle that would require us to render more sacrifices. We have been selectively harassed in past and may see so in future too, because everyone knows that ours is the only Party that will stand strong as a wall against attacks on our special status ,” she told the party workers.
“We would fight to protect our special status at any cost. And let it be very clear that those who touch our special status would actually be triggering a bomb that would lead to devastation”, she added.
All the top party leaders and functionaries including Abdul Rahman Veeri, Ghulam Nabi lone Hanjura, Mehboob Beg, Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Aga Syed Mohsin Mustafa, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Asiya Naqash, Syed Faroooq Andrabi, Zahoor Ahmad Mir, Rafi Ahmad Mir, Raja Manzoor, Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, javeed Beg, Ab Majeed Padder, Mohammad Yawar Mir, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, Aijaz Ahmad Mir, Mohammad Yusuf Bhat, Abdul Rahim Rather, Zaffar Manhas, Anjum Fazili, Sartaj Madni,, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain Sohrwadhy, Nizam ud din Bhat, , Ab Razaq Zawoora, Ab Qayoom Wani, Muntazir mohi u din, Javeed Sheikh, Ab Qayoom, Abdul Hameed Kosheen, Waheed-ur-Rahman Para, Bashir Ahmad Mir, , Nazir Ahmad Khan and Javaid Mirchal. Rouf Ahmad, Dr Samiullah,Dr Ali Mohd,Nazir Ahmad Yatoo, Ajaz Ahmad Qureshi, Syed Ab Bari Andrabi, Showkat Gayoor,Haji Parveez, Haji Mohd Ashraf , were present on the occasion and addressed the workers.
Party’s foundation day functions were also held at party office Jammu and other district headquarters of the state.
