STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu/Anantnag: Stating that people have huge expectations from the coalition government in the state, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, on Sunday asked the Centre to take more substantive measures in fulfilling the promises made in the Agenda 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.
“Mufti Saab was a visionary leader. He joined hands with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, after two months of sustained discussions which resulted in the formation of the Agenda 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 the Agenda of Alliance as 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 the Agenda 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 the Agenda 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 the Agenda 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.
The Chief Minister said it is the duty of the State Health Department now to follow up so that funds from the Centre are accessed for kick-starting work on various projects taken up under different schemes.
