PDP patron exhorts voters to join movement for change

Tribune News Service

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Srinagar, December 3

The Peoples Democratic Party has now shifted focus to Srinagar, which will go to the polls in phase 4 of the J&K elections.

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, PDP patron, today held a rally in Hazratbal where he asked the people of Srinagar to join “the movement for change and elect representatives through vote and then make them accountable.”

He also said there was a need to rebuild Srinagar as a “Smart City” with planned infrastructure such as roads, flyovers, drainage network and other basic amenities.

“Srinagar being the intellectual and political nerve centre of the state cannot remain aloof from the urge for change that is sweeping J&K and the active participation of Srinagar in the political process for change will add credibility and prestige to it,” Mufti said while addressing a public meeting in the Hazratbal constituency here to enlist support for party candidate Asiya Naqash.

The PDP patron said the aloofness of Srinagar from the democratic process had resulted in political disempowerment of its people which had led its beneficiaries to take them for granted.

He urged the youth of the city to get actively involved in political decision-making to ensure empowerment of the enterprising youngsters.

Mufti said there was an urgency to develop Srinagar on modern lines especially in the wake of the devastation caused by the September floods.

“The PDP will not only take up the challenge of rebuilding Srinagar as a “Smart City” with planned infrastructure, but will also ensure the financial and social security of its residents as well,” he said and added that the focus of the post-flood rehabilitation in Srinagar would be on rebuilding the city’s economy and restoration of the livelihood of its people.

Meanwhile, senior PDP leader and party candidate from the Amirakadal constituency in Srinagar Syed Altaf Bukhari said the PDP as promised in its manifesto would make it mandatory for all political parties to field 33 per cent female candidates in the elections.

Karra to take legal action against NC spokesman

Senior PDP leader and MP Tariq Hameed Karra on Wednesday said he would be initiating legal action against National Conference (NC) spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu for making false, defamatory and derogatory accusations against him. “I have decided to file a case of defamation against Mattu and seek damages to the tune of Rs 50 crore for making fictive and unsubstantiated accusations against me,” Karra said in a statement.

Karra said he was never a minister in the cabinet headed by PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as stated by Mattu in his statement, published in a section of the press on Wednesday, while levelling wild allegations against him.