PDP, like AAP, brought in new moral factor in politics: Mufti Mohammad Sayeed

Asserting that PDP in 2002, like Aam Aadami Party (AAP) now, had introduced a new moral factor in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir, party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today recalled how the party too had taken a month to form coalition government with Congress while the state was put under a brief spell of Governor's rule.

"We had taken about a month to form coalition government with Congress and others, but not before formulation a comprehensive Common Minimum Programme (CMP) which emphasised on the resolution of Kashmir problem, restoration of dignity of people and setting a new developmental era in Jammu and Kashmir," Sayeed said. "We had not shown any hesitation to form the government which even necessitated a brief spell of Governor rule in the state," he said.

Recalling the circumstances in the state post 2002 polls, Mufti said, "PDP, like AAP now, had introduced a new moral factor in the politics of J&K."

Addressing a meeting in Vijaypur in Samba, Sayeed said there was no room for cynicism regarding AAP's promise to institutionalise transparency in the system and asserted that it was possible with a sincere leadership, strong political will and a clear vision.

He recalled how PDP delivered an effective pro-people governance in the state. "The coalition even delivered more than what the manifestos of Congress and PDP had promised," he said, adding that the "seizure around the state began to lift" and helped Indo-Pak friendship to blossom, with the initiatives of the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He said though PDP had partnered with Congress in the state and BJP-led NDA ruled the Centre, it was the state's "conviction and sincerity" that got it all the assistance from the Centre.

On the campaign against corruption, Mufti said while Jan Lok Pal is still being debated at the national level, PDP-Cong government had constituted the State Accountability Commission (SAC), similar to Jan Lok Pal way back in 2003.

Similarly, the RTI Act was passed by the Jammu and Kashmir legislature in 2004 whereas it got the nod at the national level only in 2005, he said, adding that the direct cash transfer scheme was introduced in 2003 itself. "We had started the scheme to send money orders to the beneficiaries of various schemes," he recalled.

Sayeed came down heavily on the NC government for dilution of "institutions like SAC and RTI". "The present dispensation has eroded sanctity of such institutions to safeguard their vested interests," he said.

The PDP leader observed that the people "did not need sermons" of the performance of different parties and pointed at how AAP had become a serious force in the capital. He wondered at the new feature of the Delhi elections which saw the second largest party in the Assembly setting conditions.

Sayeed said like PDP, which has emerged as an alternative of National Conference and Congress in J&K, AAP has emerged as alternative of BJP and Congress in Delhi.