Time to begin journey with new hope: CM

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 28

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has said time has come for the people of all the three regions of the state to begin a new journey with a new hope for a prosperous future in a peaceful atmosphere.

“It is not the concern of only the PDP, NC, Congress or BJP to strive towards pulling Jammu and Kashmir out of the morass, it is and should be the concern of the entire nation,” the Chief Minister said while winding up the discussion on the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address in the Legislative Assembly.

Making it clear that the PDP never gave up on its self-rule agenda, Mehbooba said in fact the work was already in progress towards the implementation of various elements of the historic roadmap for resolution of the problems of Jammu and Kashmir. “And fortunately the BJP is also now partnering with us to revive and carry forward the reconciliation and confidence-building process in the state and the region,” she said.

Launching a scathing attack on her political opponents, Mehbooba said, “Unfortunately they want me to get all that back, including power projects and water resources, in just two months, which they surrendered while being in power for the past over three decades. But I assure you that I will leave no stone unturned to get J&K back what it has lost over the years in lieu of power.” Mehbooba added that unlike the National Conference, which rushed for cobbling up alliances for power, the PDP had both in 2002 and in 2015 clearly spelled out its terms of engagement in black and white, with Congress and BJP, respectively, for government formation.

Making it clear that she would deliver on the commitments made with the people, Mehbooba said she would stay in the chair only as long as it was her strength “and the day I feel this chair has become my weakness, I won’t remain clinched to it even for a minute”.

Mehbooba hopes to get opponents’ support 

Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said she was standing in the House at a place where Kashmir’s most towering political leader Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed used to be in the past. “I see myself as a very small person in front of these political stalwarts and had never imagined that I would have to put on their role at some point of time in my life,” she said, adding “I am taking upon myself this daunting task only to accomplish the vision of my father and in this endeavour of hope I don’t feel alone. My own party, my allies and I hope even my political opponents will be the support system for me that I value,” she said.