Vote for PDP to change political discourse in Kashmir: Mehbooba

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti Saturday said a change of government was inevitable in Jammu and Kashmir after the assembly elections but her party also aimed at changing the entire system to ensure justice, development and increased opportunities of growth for all.

Addressing various public meetings in Baderwah constituency of Doda district, the PDP president said in order to make the change in the government purposeful and result-oriented, the party must receive a decisive mandate to take firm decisions to come down heavily on corruption and mismanagement of natural resources.

The PDP would change the political discourse of the state so as to be able to do justice to all sections of society, communities and regions, she assured, claiming all the regions and communities are now eagerly waiting to become part of the change that is imminent after the collapse of the National Conference and Congress in the state.

The PDP chief said her party had a positive agenda for the Jammu and Kashmir issue and the issues facing the state and it will revive the reconciliation, reconstruction, rehabilitation and development process it had started during its tenure in the government between 2002 -2005.

"You have to come out to vote for PDP for a bright future as both Congress and National Conference have done nothing for your betterment and empowerment till now," she said.

She said though there is growth and development stagnation prevailing throughout the state, but both National Conference and Congress have deliberately ignored the whole Chenab Valley region of Jammu province.

Referring to the local issues, Mehbooba said the Baderwah area after having remained the hub of education and intellectual activities even during pre-independence era has suffered deterioration in education facilities due to lack of genuine representation and government concern.

"Student community have to badly suffer here because of the lack of proper infrastructure and teaching staff in the education institutions.

"Being a mountainous area the people here have to travel a lot to get the treatment done in hospitals which at times becomes difficult for the patients particularly children, women and old aged people," she added.

Road connectivity is the main problem in the area and the PDP will seriously work to address the issue on priority, she promised.

Mehbooba said the Tourism Development Authority started by the previous PDP-led government in Baderwah has failed to create jobs and do anything positive to uplift the economic condition of people.

"Once voted to form the government, we will revitalize the whole development scenario all across the state which we had started in 2002," she added.

Bhaderwah constituency goes to polls on November 25 in the first phase of the five-phased state assembly elections.