1975 Indira-Sheikh Accord an important event: Mufti

‘It revived democratic process and created space for politicians of different shades including me’
• Relationship with Pak has a direct bearing on J&K
• We favour dialogue with all shades of opinion; Sajad Gani Lone is one example
• People-to-people contact and cross-LoC trade will help address the trust deficit
• It is my dream to make J&K world’s no. 1 tourist destination
• Threat posed by fringe elements to India’s diversity worrisome
• Peaceful conduct of Amarnath Yatra proves secular credentials of people
1975 Indira-Sheikh Accord an important event - MuftiChief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Friday praised 1975 Indira-Sheikh accord and termed it an important event, which revived democratic process and created space for politicians of different shades including him.
In an informal conversation with top names in media including President IBF & CEO, Star India, Uday Shankar; Vice President IBF, Puneet Goenka; Vice President IBF & Chairman India TV, Rajat Sharma; Vice President IBF & Director Bangla Entertainment Pvt Limited, N. P. Singh; Treasurer IBF & GM South Asia, Discovery Networks, Rahul Johri; Director Eenadu, I. Venkat; Group CEO, Viacom 18 Media Pvt Ltd, Sudhanshu Vats; MD, South Asia Turner International, Siddharth Jain; Chairman TV Today Group, Arun Purie; MD, UTV Entertainment Television Ltd., Siddharth  Roy Kapoor  and Member Finance, Doordarshan Rajeev Singh, here today,  Mufti spoke at length on several issues including dialogue with Pakistan, cross-LoC trade & travel, intolerance, alliance with BJP, NITI Ayog, tourism and development.
He said the foremost challenge on the internal front was to bring the three regions of the state together.
“My alliance with the BJP demonstrates my resolve to gel the three regions of the state following the fractured verdict in 2014 elections,” CM said and noted with concern the inability of the successive government in the past to connect the regions.
The chief minister praised the 1975 Indira Gandhi-Sheikh Abdullah accord.
“The Indira-Sheikh Accord of 1975 is an important event. It revived the democratic process in the state and created space for politicians of different shades, including me. It also dealt a blow to those who believed that J&K was remote-controlled by New Delhi. I am thankful to former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for exploding the myth by ensuring free and fair elections in 2002 which strengthened the democratic institutions and allowed parties like PDP to emerge on the political canvas of the state,” he said. Referring to Indo-Pak relations, Mufti said, “Relationship with Pakistan has a direct bearing on J&K. Political uncertainty hampers state’s development. I strongly believe that all issues between India and Pakistan should be resolved amicably by engaging in a meaningful dialogue. I set the tone during my earlier tenure from 2002 to 2005 when we had a decade-long peace in the region”.
“On internal front, we favour dialogue with all shades of opinion. Sajad Gani Lone is one example. The government’s Agenda of the Alliance also favours dialogue with those who have ideological differences with us. We will continue to explore this option,” he said
On forming alliance with BJP, Mufti said, “I had the option to form government with the support of Congress and NC but that would have negated the verdict of one important region. Despite ideological differences, I chose to side with BJP to lend credence to the decision of the people, which had voted overwhelmingly for the BJP in Jammu, just as we had emerged as the single largest party in Kashmir. I met the Prime Minister couple of times and saw how focussed he is on  development of J&K”.
The CM termed cross-LoC trade as the biggest confidence building measure between India and Pakistan.
“Unfortunately this CBM, which has several emotions attached to it, was in a state of limbo for the past several years. I am a firm believer that people-to-people contact and trade across several points will help address the trust deficit across the region. Our development indices are far better in comparison to those across the Line of Control,” he said.
On intolerance, Mufti said the threat posed by certain fringe elements to the country’s diversity is worrisome.
“Dadri incident in which Akhlaq was lynched by an irate mob is very unfortunate. Back home, Zahid Rasool Bhat became a casualty of hate politics, but I am happy that despite extreme provocation the people demonstrated great maturity and did not fall prey to the evil and nefarious designs of these enemies of the state who want to destroy the centuries-old harmony exhibited by the people. The peaceful conduct of Amarnath Yatra year after year is ample testimony to the secular credentials of the people of my state,” he said.
He said he was happy that J&K Legislative Assembly set a great precedent by unanimously adopting a resolution in both the Houses of the State Legislature that condemned violence in any form and sent out a clear message of peace and tolerance to the rest of the country
On NITI Aayog and Centre’s financial assistance, Mufti said, “The Planning Commission has been replaced by NITI (National Institute of Transforming India) Aayog. Hopefully the new system of financing will ensure us of our share in Central taxes”.
He said the Centre has been generous in continuing our status as a special category state which allows us to source funds on 90:10 basis.”
On tourism, chief minister said it was his my dream to make J&K world’s no. 1 tourist destination.
“Perception is far from reality. Can’t reverse the trend without media’s help. We need to work together and change the negative perception so that people travel to J&K without any inhibitions. My government is also working towards removing the travel advisories imposed by certain countries. We are upgrading the infrastructure and targeting high-end travellers and framing packages for family and weekend visitors. Gulmarg is an all-season destination with add-on facilities like heritage golf course, cable car and high-end villas. We will create similar facilities at Pahalgam as well,” he said adding the government is also focusing to make Jammu an independent leisure destination, which will spur arrivals besides the huge influx of pilgrim tourists, who come to pay obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.
He said Ladakh region has its own USP. “It attracts a lot of foreigners and I am hopeful that over a period of time we would be able to project it as an ideal adventure tourism destination in the country”.

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