Strong wave building for PDP in J&K: Mehbooba Mufti

SRINAGAR: Ahead of the Assembly elections this month, opposition PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today said a "strong wave" was building for her party in Jammu and Kashmir given its "pro-people agenda".

"Jammu and Kashmir is at the crossroads of historic opportunity to mark a new beginning and the winds of change have already set in right from Salamabad (in north Kashmir) to Lakhanpur (in Jammu region). There is a strong wave building for PDP given its pro-people agenda," Mehbooba said while addressing an election rally in Lolab Assembly segment.

She said the Lok Sabha elections had laid the foundations for the "momentous political transformation" and people across the length and breadth of the state wanted to conclude the process by bringing about the "much-needed change" of the government in the state.

"I am here today seeking votes not just to form the next government in the state, but enlist support for putting in place a PDP regime headed by (PDP patron and her father) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed that has the commitment and the consistency to deliver on its agenda of ensuring larger political and economic welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," she said.

The PDP president said there was a strong mood prevailing on the ground in favor of her party and people were now "fed up" with the present ruling party which had "never been serious" to address their issues.

"It is only through the vote that we can get rid of the present anarchic regime and pave the way for a responsible system and sincere leadership to change the destiny of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," she said, adding the people were aware enough this time about the importance of vote and they were going to give a strong mandate to the PDP.

Mehbooba, a member of Parliament from south Kashmir, said it was only with the wholehearted support of the people that her party can "save the state from the miseries of the misrule and anarchy which was rampant" during the past six years.

"The agenda of PDP could to a large extent respond to the complex problems of the state, faced as it is with decades' long political uncertainty, development deficit, unfulfilled aspirations, mounting unemployment, corruption, nepotism and favoritism," she said.