Srinagar: Claiming that Jammu and Kashmir had
suffered on various fronts in the wake of partition, PDP
Patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Thursday said self-rule could, to a
large extent, neutralize its negative fallout.
"While it would effectively remove the sense of siege
that gripped the state post 1947, it would also lead to a
virtual reunion of the two sides seperated by LoC", Mufti said
addressing a one-day workshop on the self-rule formula at the
party headquarters here today.
The workshop titled "Is Self-Rule A Way Forward to the
Resolution of Jammu and Kashmir Problem", was part of the
party`s awareness campaign about its political, economic and
developmental agenda.
Mufti said self-rule formula was grounded in contemporary
realities of the subcontinent but takes into account the
historical context of the problem without getting bogged down
by the decades old baggages of hatred, wars, violence,
political deceit and unkept promises.
Expressing concern over the internal condition of
Pakistan, Mufti said the condition in the entire subcontinent
can be stable only by resolving the Kashmir issue.
"For us friendship between Indian and Pakistan is
mandatory. I request the government of India to carry forward
the reconciliation process started by former pm Atal Bihari
Vajpayee to its logical conclusion," Mufti said, adding that
the peace process started by Vajpayee was "irreversible".
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to take measures
that are aimed not just to secure the gains of the peace
process so far but widen its scope to make a real difference
to the lives of people, he said.
He said without in any way impinging on the sovereignty
of either India or Pakistan, self-rule would result in
reuniting the two parts of the state.
He said different regions and sub-regions which have
constantly felt deprived in matters of development and
representation in government would find all their concerns
addressed in the self-rule document which provided for
equitable distribution of resources and restoration of state`s
natural resources to its people.
Bureau Report
