Mehbooba seeks mandate for taking J&K out of morass

Seeking entry into the Assembly as a member from Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today urged voters to give her a strong and decisive mandate so that she can continue efforts to take the state out from the morass of political and economic uncertainties.
Addressing a series of election meetings in Anantnag which will go to polls on June 22, she invoked her late father and former Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed who was a member from this constituency when he passed away in January and said she was seeking the mandate to carry forward his mission of development and progress.

She insisted that her party PDP is the only dependable party "If you want a change of direction, not just a change of government; if you want new priorities, not just politics."
Mehbooba, who is heading a PDP-BJP coalition government since April, said the next five years are crucial for not only ensuring good governance but accomplishing the challenging task of rebuilding safe, sustainable and planned infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.
She is currently a member of Parliament from Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency.
"It is my party's resolve to retrieve Jammu and Kashmir from the morass of political and economic uncertainties and usher the state into an era of peace and prosperity.

"We have started picking up the threads from where we left in 2005 (when the tenure of previous PDP-led government ended) to revive the process of political reconciliation and economic rejuvenation so that we can secure a peaceful and prosperous future for the state and its people," she said.

The 57-year-old leader who took the party's mantle after her father's demise said the people of the state, more than ever before, want today the politicians to stand up and address the political and economic issues that matter to them.
"They want leadership, they want commitment, they want accountability, they want political stability, they want economic prosperity, they want development and they want employment.

"As a dependable regional political force, PDP has demonstrated that it can deliver on all these counts with unflinching consistency and has in fact set the momentum for tangible transformation on the ground through path-breaking developmental and welfare initiatives," she said.
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Urging the electorate to support her, Mehbooba said, "I have come to seek your vote and support to carry forward the mission of my father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed which could not be fully accomplished because of his sad demise."
She expressed the hope that voters of Anantnag would once again repose faith in PDP and elect her as their representative so that Sayeed's dream of bringing peace and development to the state is realized.

"Mufti Sahab started his political career from Anantnag and people of the area showed their trust in him during the difficult times. I am hopeful that people will again repose their faith on PDP and give me an opportunity to serve them and realize the dream of Mufti Sahab for the state," she said.
Mehbooba said PDP's agenda is not event-related but a process which is being and would be taken to the logical conclusion through tangible initiatives at political, economic and administrative fronts.
"We have demonstrated that during our brief stint in power between 2002 and 2005 and would continue to pursue our core ideals with unflinching consistency in our present tenure in the government," she said.

The Chief Minister said her government's focus is on skill development, agriculture, horticulture, handicrafts and tourism sectors which are the mainstay of the state's economy.
"Various multilateral institutions and major corporate houses have been roped in to build and finetune the infrastructure in these key sectors to achieve the desired levels of growth," she told the electorate.
Infrastructure building in agriculture, horticulture, tourism and handicraft sectors would not only give a fillip to the state's economy but would help create more job opportunities for the local youth by fully harnessing their enterprising skills, she said.
Mehbooba said the problem of unemployment especially among the educated youth is a matter of grave concern and needs immediate thought.

"Imaginative policies are being directed to enable the state's youth to become a productive, self-confident and committed force for its development.
"Not only the government but the whole nation, including individuals, institutions and organizations, have to be brought together in a spirit of creative enterprise to widen the economic and employment space for J&K's youth," she said.