Ramban: Claiming that it was a direct fight between PDP and BJP in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday hit out at the saffron outfit and said it was using "negative tactics" to improve its numbers in the assembly.
"The current electoral contest is directly between PDP and BJP, but the BJP is unfortunately using negative tactics to somehow improve its numbers in the assembly," Mehbooba said at a public meeting at Ramban.
Mehbooba, who is on the campaign trail in Chenab valley, said, "The people of Jammu and Kashmir have always resisted such forces and they will continue to do so this time under the banner of the PDP which is duty bound to address all their political and developmental issues."
She said "we have to preserve the secular ethos of J&K and the state must continue to be an example of tolerance and harmony", and asserted her party will forcefully resist any move that can have a negative impact on its distinct identity.
She said the people have to be cautious about the forces who are hell bent upon damaging the secular fabric and basic character of the state by trying to polarise the state with an eye on the forthcoming assembly elections. Mehbooba said PDP under the leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is formed to represent and accommodate the different regions and communities of the state, and it will continue with its mission to address the people's issues and work for the permanent peace and development in the region.
Mehbooba said Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions are a part of a bouquet and it must continue to be like that and the PDP will nurture that idea at any cost. "The expanding platform in the form of PDP has become popular in all the regions and communities by way of its pro-people policies and clean politics," she said and added that at the popular level the party has replaced the National Conference and Congress who have failed to serve the people in spite of getting a long lease in power since Independence.
The PDP chief appealed to the people to vote for strong and stable government so that all issues of rehabilitation, governance and development of the state are addressed with full confidence. "PDP is not only a party, it is a movement of the people who want to change the political scenario of the state," she said.
She said the people must go through the performance of all parties and find themselves who have worked for their betterment. "People should reject corrupt, weak and opportunists in the assembly polls and give PDP a decisive mandate so that it gets the state out of these uncertain and bad times," Mehbooba said.
The PDP president said the people in the Ramban area are facing innumerable problems on multiple fronts partly because of representation deficit and also as a result of difficult terrain, and assured the people that her party will seriously work to address all their issues once it is voted to power.
She said the mountains of Ramban are full with minerals, herbs and medicinal plants but the potential has remained untapped with the result its benefits have not reached to the people. "We will promote the cultivation of herbs and medicinal plants in their natural habitat by revisiting laws governing it, so that meaningful employment is generated for the youth of the area," she said.
Referring to the horticulture potential of the area, she said the scientists have successfully cultivated olive trees in the area and that needs to be propagated so that the people can do it on commercial lines. Apart from promoting other horticulture options the olive cultivation will be backed with modern technology so that most of the uncultivated land is brought under it with proper farming facilities.
Mehbooba said tourism has great potential in the region but it too has remained untapped so far. Connectivity and commercial facilities would be promoted for tourists so that the locals can set up their units and also find dignified employment. She said the road connectivity will be improved and new projects will be taken up in the area to provide the people relief.
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