Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday welcomed the government decision of freeing the Pro-Freedom leaders in Kashmir, reiterating that democracy is a battle of ideas with little space for any coercion or confrontation.
Addressing a peoples’ rally at central Kashmir’s Budgam, PDP general secretary Peerzada Mansoor Hussain pitched for the resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue process, stating that the thaw between the two countries is inevitable for everlasting peace and stability in South Asia.
The PDP leader added that it is high time for India and Pakistan to come forward and evolve consensus so that the people of Kashmir who are bearing the brunt of the arch rivalry between the two countries could prosper and scan new horizons of tranquility and peace sans any further delay.
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Mansoor in his address said that democracy is battle of ideas and the government decision to free Resistance leaders including Syed Ali Geelani is a welcome measure. He added that the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) must be initiated at an earliest and the PDP would play a vital role in transforming Jammu and Kashmir into a hub of peace and prosperity.
He said both India and Pakistan should understand that until and unless Kashmir issue remains unattended and unresolved, the era of development and tranquility would remain a distant dream for both of them.
“Dialogue has to be initiated with Pakistan. It is the only way through which the pending issues would get resolved and peoples’ lives could be safeguarded. The world has now understood the vitality of dialogue and reconciliation. PDP has been pitching since inception for the people to people contact between the divided parts of Kashmir, opening of more routes and making borders irrelevant- this is the only way forward and time is only vindicating the stand of the PDP and its founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed,” Mansoor said in his address.
Appealing Syed Ali Geelani to play role in stopping the mayhem and bloodshed in Kashmir, the PDP general secretary said the youth of the state must be guided in a proper way so that their valuable talent could be channelized in a proper direction.
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“The precious lives of youth attain more significance than anything else for us. Jobs, growth and development would only be possible if youth are allowed to live with honour and dignity. I appeal Syed Ali Geelani to play a vital role and become part of the dialogue process so that state that could be saved from treading towards the brink of destruction and chaos,” said the PDP general secretary.
He also appealed the youth to understand the value of their lives and importance of their being. “The youth of the state have proven their abilities in all fields across the globe. They must learn to demand their rights within the system. I can assure them with certainty that sky is going to be a limit for their success then,” Mansoor said.
He added that people of Jammu and Kashmir have been witnessing the mayhem and destruction due to the blunders committed by the leadership of National Conference. Mansoor said that the same leadership which promised green pastures to the people threw them into middle of uncertainty and exposed them to the worst times the state of Jammu and Kashmir ever witnessed in history.
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“Even before Maharaja Hari Singh signed accord of accession with the Union of India on October 26, 1947, it was Sheikh Abdullah who two months before – in August, 1947 passed a unanimous party resolution that declared Kashmir as India’s integral part that too without any conditions,” PDP general secretary said in his address.
Mansoor asserted further that history bears testimony to the fact that whenever National Conference has come to power in the state, peoples’ lives have been devastated in a most ruthless manner.”From Maqbool Bhat to Afzal Guru, it is NC and its legacy that makes peace alien to the people and corruption the central theme of governance in the state,” he said.
He added that the Jammu and Kashmir is at present witnessing the new era of equitable development and opportunities of employment for the youth. “From regularising 60 thousand daily wagers to making fast track recruitments, from making the availability of ration to the people in abundance to opening of the closed power corridors for the people, the PDP has been in a forefront to honour the commitments it has made with the people since its foundation,” Mansoor said.
(With inputs from KNS)
