The Hindu : New Delhi News : PDP to be a vital player in new discourse on Kashmir: Mufti

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Tuesday, Jan 13, 2009
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PDP to be a vital player in new discourse on Kashmir: Mufti

Shujaat Bukhari

ANANTNAG: Former Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Monday said that the PDP has created a new space within the democratic system for resolution of the Kashmir issue. “Having emerged as a strong regional force, PDP shall have a crucial role to play in the new democratic discourse on Kashmir resolution,” he said.

Addressing his first post-poll rally here, Mr. Sayeed said the PDP would, with a fresh resolve and renewed determination, carry forward its mission of ending the State’s political and economic despair.

“We will carry the voice of Jammu & Kashmir to all parts of the country and use all the forums including the Assembly, Parliament and other democratic platforms, to champion the State’s political, economic, security, identity and regional concerns,” he said, adding that nothing would be allowed to be pushed down the throat of the State against the wishes of its people.

Mr. Sayeed said the highly encouraging participation of the people in the recent elections had accorded fresh approval, sanctity and credibility to the democratic processes and institutions in the State. He said most of the previous attempts at Kashmir resolution unfortunately had become only a bargaining counter for power. “In that process, the State kept only losing the identity and powers that it had acquired after a long and painful struggle for Self-Rule,” he added.

He said the Kashmir issue could not be put on the backburner.

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