Modi has mandate to solve bigger problems in J&K: Mehbooba

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had the mandate to solve the bigger issues and problems faced by the people of the state.

"If any leader ever had the mandate to solve bigger problems including those faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, that is Narendra Modi", Mufti said.

Campaigning for the ruling PDP candidate and her brother, Tasaduq Hussain Sayeed, in south Kashmir's Anantnag Parliamentary constituency, Mufti said the massive mandate Modi got from the people vindicated her father, late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed's decision to align with the BJP.

"The mandate Modiji has is needed by us to solve our problems which are not just those of 'Bijli, Paani and Sadak' but humanitarian issues like winning the hearts of everyone," Mufti said.

"If they (India and Pakistan) are today talking on Indus Water Treaty, tomorrow there would be talks on opening of new routes between the two countries," she added.

Mufti said her party took two months to work out an agenda of alliance with the BJP before forming the coalition in the state while the rival National Conference aligned with the Congress for government formation in the past without any common minimum programme.

"In December 2015 he (Modi) went on an unscheduled visit to Pakistan while former Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, desired to see his birthplace in Pakistan, but could never muster the courage to go there during his ten years in power", she told party activists and supporters in Anantnag.

She stated that people should not forget that it was her father and party that had removed the fear of crackdowns and disgrace by the security forces from their hearts and minds.

"It was Mufti Sahab who demanded the opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot roads. He did not only demand opening of these routes alone, but wanted to open Kargil-Skardu and other routes," she said.

Addressing party workers, the PDP candidate for Anantnag Lok Sabha by-poll, Tasaduq Hussain Sayeed said youth will have to change their mindset to achieve bigger and difficult things in life.

He referred to his career as a Bollywood cinematographer and said to catch the first ray of the Sun in the Ladakh region, he would get up at 3 a.m. during his film shoot in that region.

"I could do that through a burning passion and you too will have to develop passion to achieve things in life", Tasaduq said.

--IANS

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