Tangmarg, Mar 23 (KNS): J&K Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN) President & former Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir said that DPN has been pursuing the path breaking initiative on political front to empower youth of the State & to ensure epo-making initiatives for politico-economic development over the years. To bring peace, normalcy and prosperity in the State has been the priority. Our focus has always been on restoration of law and order by peaceful means, good governance, fighting corruption and development of infrastructure.

Mir was addressing one day workers convention in Tangmarg.

“As we all are aware, for more than the last two decades, youth in Kashmir has been living in total discomfort and disillusionment; most probably because of the prolonged violence/radicalization in the eyes of the whole nation” Mir said.
Mir further added that, this is the legacy of events of 1947 and a fact that the people continue to remain distanced with the political system of times; both of the State and the Centre.
Mir said, the general euphoria of the people here with each election has in fact been - manipulated, orchestrated by various means including the use of money power and at the whim and sweet will of various political forces at the Centre.

“In the recent past, dismissal of PDP-BJP Government and imposition of Governor Rule followed by the President Rule is again an endeavour to uphold the legacy. We all know, the Governor Rule can never be a substitute to the popular government and uphold the same whatever the circumstances, he said. Centre wants the state of affairs to continue as it suits their vested interests and never ever allow the democratic process to flourish in the State, Mir said.

Mir said, although all Regional and National political parties voiced unanimously to hold elections simultaneously with the Parliamentary elections.

“But on different pretexts as usual, the decision to hold the elections to State Assembly has been evaded despite the roused anger amongst the masses who remain the real sufferer,” Mir said.

“All are witness to the fact that the Regional parties who remained at the helm from time to time have not fulfilled their promises with regards to the developmental programmes which added to the sufferings/miseries of the people” Mir said.

He further said, that the people always cry hoarse for electricity, road connectivity, drinking water facilities and irrigation, upliftment of health and education sectors. Successive governments have never fulfilled their poll promises to the dismay of commoners and as such Kashmir has acquired a unique distinction towards the poorest ever development on socio-economic front.

DPN president said that despite having huge water resource, the people in the State continue to face acute water crisis of the millennium as there is no proper mechanism in place for proper water management ever since independence” and added that “Irrigation and electricity problems are other related off-shoots which have never been properly attended to by erstwhile dispensations, with the result we still live a primitive life”.

Mir said, “regional Political Parties have often been adopting hollow sloganeering on all such issues concerning general public but fail in timely implementation. Change being the essence of Nature; the people have to rise to the occasion and see that every such system changes with the change in dispensations to bring forth the vibrant and dedicated force to tackle these issues at the core.”

“Unemployment in the State has assumed enormity and is a growing menace eating our educated youth through the ongoing uprising in the State” Mir said.
“Youth is being pushed to the wall. They are being harassed, humiliated, jailed, killed and made victim of all kinds of barbarism within and outside the State. Youth feels alienated and thus falls an easy prey to the unlawful activities with disuse of his capabilities, Mir said.

“We all know that our youth in particular and common masses in general do not want violence but to live a peaceful and dignified life. Narratives have been there from all political dispensations but no positive approach adopted by the successive governments at the Centre/State. Serious thought required for addressing these issues is yet to come. GOI needs to come out with a concrete proposition without feeling any qualms of conscience over the contradictions in their political philosophy,” Mir said.

“Our party has been instrumental in commissioning of Narbal-Tangmarg Road (NTR), new Degree colleges, creation of various Districts, Tehsils, and Niabats besides other developmental works in the overall interest of the people of Tangmarg in particular. Road connectivity, developing infrastructure in health, education, revenue and works sectors have been a hallmark of our contribution in the recent past, Mir said. However, Constituency developmental programmes received a heavy set back during the last four years as all the projects once initiated have been shelved one by one because of lack of commitment, Mir further said.

“In future also we will be fighting for the rights of the people, empowerment of youth, and development of infrastructure; besides fighting for the restoration of peaceful and dignified life of the people of the State. Our aim is and would be to fulfill the aspirations of the people of the State as a priority. Democratic institutions which are trampled be restored to their glory with the involvement of youth in making the State as vibrant and peaceful as it used to be in the past. Role of youth in the mainstream development will be prioritised with their maximum participation,” he further said.
The convention was also addressed by General Secretary Nazir Ahmad Wani, Mohammed Asadullah Dar, Farooq Ahmad Dar and other. (KNS)