Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Wednesday justified the PDP-BJP alliance, describing it as a great opportunity that has come his way to change the destiny of the people of the state.
He promised to lay a strong base for building a new J&K, where peace and prosperity go hand in hand.
“I have no personal agenda and don’t enter into any deals. History has given me an opportunity to change the course of the state and I have taken up this challenge with both hands,” he stated.
The Chief Minister was addressing a huge public gathering after laying the foundation of a new fruit mandi at Aglar in Shopian district today.
Speaking at length over forging an alliance with the BJP after two months of hectic deliberations, Mufti said Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoyed the support of 1.2 billion people of the country. He said his prime objective was to give people in all three regions of the state a truly representative government that would win their hearts.
“I am not a scheming person and I don’t enter into any political deals for personal gains. My career is like an open book which everybody can read. I have seen power throughout my life. My only goal is to remove the clouds of uncertainty and link the regions of the state together,” the Chief Minister said.
Reflecting upon India’s relations with Pakistan, the Chief Minister said New Delhi had time and again extended a hand of friendship to Islamabad. He referred to the initiatives taken by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which led to a prolonged thaw in ties between the two neighbours. “‘Na bandook se na goli se, baat banegi boli se’. I have said it before and I repeat that political uncertainty will only end by a meaningful and sustained dialogue between the two countries,” he said.
Mufti said people had waited patiently since 1947 for a political process that promised them a better and prosperous tomorrow. “We have gone through tough times. People need succour which my government vows to provide,” he promised.
Defending his “battle of ideas” strategy, the Chief Minister said he hated to thrust his ideology upon anyone and didn’t believe in muzzling voices of the people. “I don’t have a monopoly over political ideologies. I don’t like putting people behind bars, but I believe our ideologies should serve people better,” he observed.
Mufti’s ‘battle of ideas’ strategy talks about giving separatists space to express their views.
