Centre needs to take steps to fulfill agenda of alliance: Mehbooba Mufti

Stating that people have huge expectations from the coalition government in the state, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, today asked the Centre to take more substantive measures in fulfilling the promises made in theAgenda of Alliance.

She said her father took a tough but well-thought out decision, as he saw a historic opportunity to break new ground in bringing the people from the three distinct regions of the state closer to each other.

"MuftiSaabwas a visionary leader. He joined hands with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, after two months of sustained discussions which resulted in the formation of theAgenda of Alliance.

"It is now our collective responsibility to implement it and fulfill the promises made with the people of the state," she said, while stressing upon building a reconciliatory environment.

The Chief Minister made these observations while addressing gatherings at Rajouri district of Jammu after laying the foundation stone new medical colleges in the state.

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, J P Nadda, Union Minister of State in the PMO, Jitendra Singh, were also present on the occasion.

Describing theAgenda of Allianceas the fulcrum on which the coalition government rests, the Chief Minister said after the accession there has been a trail of "un-kept" promises with the people of the state, made by both the State as well as Central leaders.

This, she claimed has led to loss of faith among the masses, more so in mainstream leaders.

"Lot of dreams were sold to the people during the last so many decades without fulfilling any one of them.

"It was a fortunate coincidence that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed got an opportunity to serve the state as the Chief Minister from 2002 to 2005 while Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of India," she said.

Mehbooba Mufti observed that both the leaders understood the sensitivities of the state and came up with a very humane response to the problem, which included ceasefire agreements, bringing down human rights violations and opening of new routes across the LoC.

She said these steps created a feel-good factor, which unfortunately were not consolidated by the successive governments that followed.

"This time, people have again reposed trust and hope in the Coalition Government," she stated.
The Chief Minister said that just as strengthening of the
health infrastructure by setting up institutes like AIIMS was part of theAgenda of Alliance, many critical issues in the Defence, Power and other Union ministries demand similar attention.
"The credibility of my father and that of the Coalition Government depends on action taken report on theAgenda of Alliance, which can turn around the fortunes of the state over the next five years," she said.

Referring to the difficult circumstances in which the people voted in the 2014 elections, Mehbooba Mufti said both the parties took bold and tough decisions to honour the fractured mandate of the people.
"The purpose of the alliance is to create a peaceful environment within the state so that people can live honourable and prosperous lives, the foundation of which lies in theAgenda of Alliance," she added.
Hailing the people of the state for creating success stories like Athar Aamir-ul-Shafi Khan, a young 23-year-old boy who secured second position in union civil services examination and Ayesha Aziz, who became the youngest woman pilot, the Chief Minister said that they are real symbols of our state.

She said that unfortunately some sections of the electronic media were focusing more on negative news emanating from the state, thus opening doors for others to demonise Kashmiris, especially youth.
"It is the duty of the media to highlight our heroes rather than waste their energy on unending debates that yield nothing but hatred for people of the state in the rest of the country," she said.
Describing J&K as a shining example of mutual coexistence, the Chief Minister said despite extreme provocations, Hindus and Muslims have exhibited great maturity and lived in complete harmony.
She said J&K's strong foundation has helped us in frustrating attempts at undermining its secular fabric.

Congratulating the people on setting up of five new medical colleges and two AIIMS in the State, she hoped that these will be completed within the stipulated time-frames.
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She also appealed to the people of the country to help in building bridges of trust in the state and strongly advocated opening of more routes across the LoC and initiation of a political process to address the challenges confronting Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister said fostering cooperation across the LoC would not only bring political stability across the region but the stakes of local people in peace would also get enhanced.

"It would make the region a hub of emerging economic opportunities leading to cooperation in trade, commerce, tourism, adventure across the region," Mehbooba said.
Describing Jammu and Kashmir as the gateway to Central Asia, she said it could become a corridor of economic activity in the region and the country can take huge benefit of the economic activities going on across the LoC.
Mehbooba also pitched for undertaking more state-specific Confidence Building Measures (CBM), including dialogue with people of all shades of opinion to ensure that no segment of the population is left out in the march for growth and prosperity.

"Any grievance, if left unattended, bleeds the whole system," she said, while appealing to build a constituency for peace and dialogue across the country.
She expressed optimism that the Prime Minister, who is credited with taking very bold decisions, would further carry forward this vision to usher in an era of peace, stability and prosperity in the state and the region.
Later, replying to a question by a participant, Mehbooba favoured inclusion of more goods in the list of items being traded across the LoC.
She said her government is also working on providing proper facilities of banking to the cross-LoC trade activities.