Opposition Peoples Democratic Party today expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would revive the peace and resolution process within Kashmir and with Pakistan to ensure durable peace and stability in the region. "We hope that armed with a clear mandate, the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre will revive the peace and resolution process not only within Kashmir but with Pakistan as well to ensure durable peace and stability in the South Asian region," PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said.
Interacting with people during his extensive tour of various areas of south Kashmir's Anantnag district, the former Chief Minister said he was optimistic that the new government would carry forward the resolution process pioneered by former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee in 2003. "I am optimistic that the new government at the Centre will pick up and carry forward the resolution process both on internal and external fronts which was pioneered by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2003 and taken onward by Manmohan Singh. "I hope the new government, under the leadership of Modi, will take tangible measures, by involving all the stakeholders, to address the causes of alienation and trust deficit in Kashmir and work towards finding a long-lasting solution to the problem plaguing the region for the past more than six decades," the PDP patron said.
Seeking decisive mandate for his party, Sayeed said the forthcoming Assembly elections are a test for the "wisdom and foresight" of the people as they will be chalking out an entirely "new course" for the state's political leadership. "These elections will be historically transformational as they are being contested in a situation marked by extraordinary political permutations. The challenge lies in converting these polls into a momentous opportunity for not only bringing about inclusive socio-economic development across the state, but reviving the resolution and reconciliation process for the permanent settlement of the Kashmir issue," he said.
"We are at crossroads of a historic moment for change and it's for the emancipated people of the State to decide which party has the courage and the commitment to address their political and economic concerns resolutely," he said.
Sayeed said the plethora of problems facing the state today, have to be taken head-on and PDP would need a decisive mandate to be able to address them and take them up with the national leadership. "J&K today needs not just a change of government but an overhaul of the system of governance. The systemic transformation that PDP wants to bring about will be to create a responsive and responsible political structure, productive economic setup and supportive social fabric," he said adding "it could be possible only if the party gets a decisive mandate." He said while PDP would continue to act as a facilitator for resolving the Kashmir issue and the issues confronting Jammu and Kashmir, the party would carry forward its agenda of political resolution, economic development, good governance, justice and merit, foundations for which it had laid in its first brief tenure in 2002.
Referring to the recent Lok Sabha results which saw the party winning all the three seats from Kashmir, Sayeed said the results have made it amply clear that the people of the State have come together with their powerful voice and have expressed their will unambiguously. "They have affirmed our course. They have told us to move forward," he said adding the upcoming Assembly elections offer a great opportunity for consolidating this movement for change so that PDP could accomplish its unfinished agenda of ushering the state into an era of lasting peace, durable stability and inclusive prosperity.
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