By Agence India Press,
Kargil (J&K): Reiterating her party demand of opening borders for the socio-economic growth of the State, president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti said that Self-Rule proposal of PDP would neutralize all the negative effects of partition.
“Socio-economic growth of the State has been restricted after the partition due to plugging of all routes connecting Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the world”, she said while addressing a seminar on Self-Rule at Kargil.
Members of the civil society turned out in large number to attend the seminar which was also addressed by former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig.
PDP chief said that Self-Rule document prepared by her party suggest opening of all traditional routes to make Jammu and Kashmir as trade free zone as it will help socio-economic growth of the state.
She further said opening of all routes would not only boost economic condition of the people of this region but also facilitate reunification of divided families. She stressed on the need of opening of Kargil-Skardu route and said that all traditional routes would be opened after peace prevailed in the region and the PDP has been working assiduously to restore sustainable peace in the sub-continent.
She said that lasting peace would be established in the region only through Self-Rule proposal as the document prepared by the party was the realistic solution of vexed Kashmir problem. She exuded confidence that dialogue process between India and Pakistan would reach to its logical end and both the countries would arrive at a consensus for the amicable solution of this problem.
“As regions and sub-regions are equal stakeholder in the peace and development of the State, the Self-Rule proposal of the party stands for economically and politically powering all regions of the State”, she said and pointed every part of the State suffered due to the prevailing situation and aspirations of all regions and sub-regions have been incorporated in the party’s vision.
Speaking in the seminar Muzaffar Hussain Beig stressed on the need of virtual unification of both sides of Kashmir by making the borders irrelevant. “PDP in its Self-Rule has proposed constitution of Council comprising members from both sides of Kashmir and representatives of New Delhi and Islamabad ”, he said and unification of both sides of Kashmir was possible by opening more and more trade routes and making this belt as trade free zone. He also stressed on the need of reconciliation of sovereign position of India and Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir.
Beig, while quoting Self-Rule proposal, pointed out that water agreements with New Delhi should be re-negotiated and Jammu and Kashmir should have first right on its water resources.
He said that the State has been incurring huge losses due to discriminatory water agreements. He further said that PDP through its Self-Rule proposal has given more powers for the State to make Jammu and Kashmir economically self-reliant.
During the seminar members of civil society put number of questions before the PDP leaders. Mehbooba Mufti and Muzaffar Hussain Beig replied questions posed by audience during the seminar.