Riyaz Ul Khaliq
SRINAGAR
The Peoples Democratic Party Sunday said that the last nine months of its government in coalition with BJP changed Srinagar “a lot”.
Speaking at his party’s state wide membership drive here, PDP youth wing president Waheed Ur Rehman Para said that the last PDP led government had started “a new era of development”.
“Besides development, our patron wanted to bring a political change,” Para told the PDP’s Srinagar convention, “he wanted to integrate youth of J&K into mainstream.”
“The agenda of reconciliation, resolution and development was Mufti sahab’s vision which is our responsibility to fulfil now,” he said. “The agenda of PDP is to engage in inter and intra state issues.”
He said that PDP stands “unique” in the state apparatus. “Our agenda caters both to sentiment and development of the people,” he said. “Separatists would talk of sentiment and unionists of Sadak, Bijli aur Paani but PDP gave an alternative.”
In his short address, Para said, “the developmental issues taken up by late Mufti led PDP-BJP government in its nine month tenure made people forget that Srinagar was hit by floods. Although many people might be yet to receive flood relief but our restoring public infrastructure was our top priority.” “We recreated summer capital.”
“Many social welfare schemes like Laadli, Aasra were launched; reforms were made in education sector; road across Kashmir was macadamised; our cabinet was the most literate in last 60 years of J&K history,” he further said.
He added that late Mufti was “concerned about youth of J&K”. “We have 65 % of population which is youth in J&K and Mufti sahab wanted to something for them; to mitigate problems of unemployed youth, he invited MNCs for investments; he went to Mumbai and now Call Centres are being established here,” he said.
“This is the same place where Mufti sahab spoke last time in his over 50 years of political career and by launching membership drive, we are starting our political activities afresh,” he said.
Former CM Mufti Sayeed toured 17 places on December 22, 2015 and finally addressed a convention of party workers in Municipal park here that day. Two days later, he was admitted in AIIMS New Delhi where he breathed his last on January 07, 2016.
In his address, MLA Sonwar and former MoS Muhammad Ashraf Mir asked PDP president Mehbooba Mufti to “break her silence” (on government formation).
Notably, in their brief speeches, all PDP leaders assured Mehbooba of all support to whatever decision she takes on government formation.
“Our workers want to listen you,” Mir said while addressing Mehbooba, “last forty days have been painful but now we want to listen what you have to say about it (government formation).”