Have high hopes on new govt, says Mufti

Buoyed by marvellous victory of his party in Lok Sabha polls in Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Sunday said he was hopeful the new BJP government at the center would take tangible steps in finding a lasting solution to the Kashmir problem.

“I hope the new government at the centre, under the leadership of (Narendra) Modi, will take tangible measures to address the causes of alienation and trust deficit in Kashmir and work towards finding long-lasting solution of the problem plaguing the region for the past more than six decades,” Mufti said in a statement.

While congratulating Modi and his party on their outstanding victory, he said, “I hope his developmental agenda is intensive and his political agenda is inclusive. That is what is needed and expected of him in his new role.”

The PDP patron said people have voted and given a decisive mandate to the BJP for a strong and stable government at the Centre.

“Modi has got the political and electoral legitimacy to head the new government as the Prime Minister. We must all respect this legitimacy that has been accorded to him by the people of the country,” he added.

Mufti whose PDP won all three parliament seats from Kashmir Valley, urged everybody, cutting across the political divide, to make a new beginning, and “move forward to confront the great challenges people of Jammu and Kashmir are facing.”

“Let us rise as one to meet these defining challenges of our time, so that our future generations, thank us and say truly this was the turning point in J&K’s turbulent history,” the former J&K Chief Minister said.