Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed today termed the PDP-BJP government as a model of unity in diversity and stressed that partnering with strong Centre was in the state's interest to put it firmly on the path of peace, development and self-reliance.
The Chief Minister, during his hour-long speech in reply to the Motion of Thanks to the Governor's address in the Legislative Council, said the new government has been given a rare opportunity by the people to provide a transparent and smart government in collaboration with the strong NDA Government at the Centre.
"Our Common Minimum Programme is in the public domain. We will fulfil wishes and aspirations of all the people, for which we need an enabling atmosphere that promotes peace in the region," he said.
Sayeed stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a massive mandate to rule India, and PDP has formed an alliance with BJP to script a new era of development and good governance in the State.
"This is not a fractured mandate but a verdict to integrate Kashmir with Jammu and Ladakh and connect J&K with the rest of the country," he said, adding the new government will facilitate and initiate a sustained and meaningful dialogue with all the stakeholders in the State.
Urging India to take a lead in engaging all SAARC countries, including Pakistan, in the dialogue process to usher in a new era of reconciliation, Sayeed said "the PDP-BJP government in J&K has the legitimacy it requires to fulfil the wishes and aspirations of the people who voted with great hope and expectations.
Describing former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a great statesman who seized the opportunity in Kashmir to extend a hand of friendship to Pakistan, the Chief Minister said "New Delhi has to take a leaf out of his vision by writing a new chapter with its western neighbour, which is the only bottleneck in ending perpetual conflict in the region that has denied the people the rich dividends of peace.
"We can change friends but not neighbours," he said and called upon Pakistan to reciprocate to the positive steps that the Government of India has taken to bring peace in the region.
Emphasising on protecting the special status of J&K as it gives the people of the State a unique place in the country, Sayeed said, "the peace-loving people of the State rejected the Two-Nation Theory and acceded to India, which gave it a special place in its Constitution."
He said the people living in all the three regions of the State should cherish this unique position that has been given to them.
