Blame Congress for trust deficit between Kashmir, rest of India: Sayeed

Jammu, March 30 (IANS) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Sunday termed the Congress equally responsible with its ruling coalition partner National Conference for the prevailing trust deficit between people of Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country.

"Like the National Conference, leadership of the Congress is also equally responsible for prevailing anarchy, chaos and sense of uncertainty in the state," Sayeed said while addressing a public meeting at Khanpur area of Jammu district in support of party's Jammu candidate Yash Pal Sharma.

He claimed that it is a historical fact whenever Congress has entered into alliance with the NC, Jammu and Kashmir has plunged into unprecedented crisis and their alliance always proved ill-ominous for the people of this region.

Like their previous experiments for enjoying power, the present NC-Congress coalition has also proved disastrous for the people of the state as during the last five and half years, the alienation of people has been increasing with every passing day and credibility of the government has reached its lowest ebb, he alleged.

"Coalition has been exposed due to its misdeeds, misgovernance and maladministration so people are looking towards PDP to get them rid from the present anarchist dispensation," Sayeed said, adding change is imminent in Jammu and Kashmir and the coming Lok Sabha election is a step forward it.

He said the PDP-led regime had laid a foundation of mutual trust and confidence among inhabitants of different regions of the state, and challenged his opponents to come out with any evidence of discrimination with any region or sub-region of the state then.

Sayeed asserted that the PDP would remove the walls of hatred among different regions of the state and would also remove the trust deficit between people of the state and the rest of the country.

Terming the PDP is the real voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said that regional parties were emerging all over the country and PDP is the only regional party of the state which enjoys faith and confidence of all sections.

Earlier addressing a meeting of Kashmiri Pandits in support of his daughter and Anantnag candidate Mehbooba Mufti, Sayeed reiterated resolve of his party to facilitate honourable return of Kashmiri Pandit migrants to their native places and sought support and cooperation of the community to change the present system.

"PDP has already started the process of transformation to change destiny of the people of this state. I want your role in the process of transformation and you have to be with us in our efforts to establish a new system in the state.

"Return of Kashmiri Pandits to their native places in Kashmir Valley is a must to maintain the ethnicity and diversity of Kashmiri culture," he maintained and reiterated his party's resolve to facilitate honourable return of the community.

"It is my desire to bring back all Kashmiri Pandits who have left their homes and hearths two decades back," he announced.

Sayeed appealed to Kashmiri Pandits living in different parts of Jammu to cast their vote in favour of the PDP candidates for the Lok Sabha elections.

"I am also here to seek support for PDP candidate, Mehbooba Mufti, who is president of our party and is contesting Lok Sabha election from Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in the Valley," he said.