‘I joined hands with Modi to end politics of uncertainty, usher era of development’
Mebhooba hails Atal for positive moves on political reconciliation
Promising people of a new dawn in Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Friday said the objective of forging an alliance with BJP is to bring in equitable and balanced development of all the three regions of the state.
“I saw an opportunity for peace and development for entire J&K by coming together with BJP, which had won people’s mandate in Jammu, just like PDP did in Kashmir. I joined hands with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to bring people from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh together with their fellow countrymen and to end the politics of uncertainty,” Mufti said while addressing a convention of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) workers, here today.PDP President and MP Mehbooba Mufti, Minister for CA&PD and Tribal Affairs Ch. Zulkfar, MLC Yuvraj Vikramaditya, former MLA and Political Advisor to PDP President Peerzada Mansoor, PDP General Secretary Mehboob Iqbal and District President PDP, Hans Raj Kalotra, were also present on the occasion.
Mufti said the fractured mandate in 2014 elections was by far the biggest challenge for him and his party in which he saw a new hope and an opportunity for reconciliation in J&K.
“Our tie up with BJP did not happen in a day. It was not a knee-jerk reaction. We discussed in detail all critical issues for nearly two months and arrived at an Agenda of Alliance, which is the passport to peace and economic prosperity of the state,” he said.
Mufti announced setting up of a new nursing college, an amusement park and development of revered Devika Mandir as a tourist and pilgrim destination at Udhampur.
Describing road connectivity as the real indicator of progress and development, he said government is mobilizing institutional financing for road sector under normal Capital Expenditure Plan and Central schemes to annihilate distances. “Under PMGSY, 660 km road-length, including 290 km in Udhampur, will be constructed / macadamized in Jammu province at a cost of Rs. 721 crore while under CRF, Rs. 552 crore will be spent for construction, up-gradation and macadamization of roads”.
“Monsoon season has ended and the roads will match the quality we maintained between 2002 and 2005 with funds availed from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). We have also made contractors accountable by bringing in a provision of ‘Defect Liability Period’ that binds them to maintain all roads for a period of three years,” Mufti said.
Promising a bright future to thousands of students in the state where merit will be the sole consideration for selection, he said he has already started the process of heralding J&K into an new era of excellence in the education sector.
He said institutions like PSC and SSB, which had been rendered defunct, have become fully functional. “We wasted no time in reviving PSC and SSB by appointing men of proven integrity so that youth get a window of opportunity for gainful employment”.
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti credited former Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, for his positive moves on political reconciliation in J&K.
“It was Vajpayee, who acceded to Chief Minister’s request in 2002 for starting people-to-people contact between divided families living on either side of LoC and giving a new lease of life by constructing new roads and building infrastructure,” she said.
Hailing the steps taken by the present government in a short span of six months in education and development sectors, Mehbooba said those who indulge in divisive politics see a threat in coming together of the people from all the three regions of the state.
She said the government has flagged unemployment as a major challenge and steps will be taken to overcome it by absorbing qualified students in the government as well as the private sector.
