Situation more dreadful than 90s in Kashmir: PDP

Srinagar, Mar 17: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday held a youth convention in Devsar, south Kashmir in which thousands of youth supporters of the party along with senior leaders took part.
According to the party spokesman, senior PDP leader Mohammad Sartaj Madni while addressing the convention underscored the need for the greater efforts aimed at addressing the growing alienation among the youth of the state and said that if immediate measures aren’t taken to address the mounting anger and disgruntlement sauntering in every street at present, the situation could prove more troublesome and uncontrollable.
“The way in which the government is militating against the youth of the state, the situation has gone back to what was being witnessed prior to 2002 with nocturnal raids, arrests, tortures, constitutional frauds becoming order of the day,” Madni said.
He demanded that the torture being inflicted upon the youth with a sole objective to push them towards the wall must stop without further delay and those at the helm should understand that such iron fist and trigger happy approaches have only proved counterproductive in the past. “Repeating the same old mistakes will prove calamitous. The only way out is to initiate meaningful dialogue with all stake holders and resolve Kashmir at an earliest to stop the vicious cycle of violence,” said Madni.
The convention was also addressed by the PDP’s Youth Wing President Waheed-ur-Rahman Parra who stressed for the greater synergized efforts to strengthen the PDP further and make it a strong force in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape. He added that channelizing the talent of youth of the state has always been PDP’s prime focus and that the party always remained in the forefront to address their concerns.
Among several senior PDP leaders, Block Presidents Ghulam Hassan Lone, Peerzada Mohammad Shafi, Sheikh Gulzar Ahmad, Ghulam Mohammad Mir, Vice District president Riyaz Ahmad Dar were also present on the occasion.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Vice President Abdul Rahman Veeri on Sunday welcomed senior CPI (M) leader Mohammad Amin Dar into the party fold in South Kashmir’s Kulgam.
According to the party spokesman, Dar declared his entry into PDP in presence of the veteran PDP leader and Vice President Abdul
Rahman Veeri, stating it was PDP’s pro-people agenda and stand for the resolution of Kashmir issue which has inspired him to join the party.
Addressing the convention that was held on the occasion, Veeri stated that PDP will continue to tread the path shown by its founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and that it is this party alone which will never compromise on its principles and will always speak truth to power.
Veeri said that the government led by the PDP would have continued for six years if its President Mehbooba Mufti had not strongly defended the interests of the state and its people. He said that since she remained consistently firm on PDP’s agenda which was included in agenda of alliance, the BJP had to run away from coalition.
Veeri said that the political agenda of the PDP and party’s firm belief on its principles led the BJP to turn its back and that being in the government PDP kept insisting for the withdrawal of the FIRs, amnesty for the stone pelters, and return of the power projects from the NHPC.