Politics

Our constitutional position sound basis of mutual trust, tolerance, cooperation: Mehbooba

A better idea only can defeat another idea, dialogue provides better solutions, Indo-Pak friendship in State’s best interests

Srinagar: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today asserted that the constitutional position enjoyed by the State provides a sound basis of cooperation, mutual trust and tolerance between the people of the State and rest of the country.

In her message to the people of the State on the eve of Independence Day, the Chief Minister said this position was the result of reciprocity of the sentiments of the people of the State and rest of the country following the accession of 1947.

“When the situation in the entire sub continent was very bad, people of the State, by acceding to the union, chose a democratic system based on shared ideals of democracy, tolerance and mutual trust”, she said in her address.

She said the constitutional status enjoyed by Jammu & Kashmir in the Union is unparallel adding that protecting and strengthening is the collective responsibility of all of us.

Mehbooba Mufti said the extensive legislative powers enjoyed by the State Legislature, which are comparable to none in the country, were exemplified recently during the GST Act formulation. “The House debated the issues and the Presidential Order on the subject also ratified the Legislative competence and authority of our Assembly,” she said in her address.

Describing dialogue as the only way ahead to sort out issues, the Chief Minister said it is her firm belief that dialogue always gives the best solution to any problem. She added the Agenda of Alliance of the present Government has also declared that dialogue with all stakeholders in the State is the way forward. She said democracy is the battle of ideas and ideas can’t be jailed. “A better idea only can defeat another idea”, she said.

Terming Indo-Pak friendship in the best interests of the State, Mehbooba Mufti said it is the people of the State who bear the brunt of bitterness in relations between the two countries. She said due to the recent tension along the LoC, hundreds of people living close to the borders in the State had to migrate to safer places. “Many of them lost their lives, schools in these areas got closed and a lot of them were rendered homeless”, she said in her address.

The Chief Minister, however, noted with satisfaction that despite having lost too much to the violence and uncertainty of the past three decades, people of the State have held high the values and principles Jammu & Kashmir is known for.

She said the way in which people of the State stood up against the killing of Amarnath yatries recently is a case example. “This not only reflected the peaceful nature and value system of our people, it also created a soft corner for our people elsewhere in the country”, the Chief Minister remarked in her address.

Describing youth as the future hope of our times, Mehbooba Mufti said in her interactions with the youth of the State she has seen the dreams of a better future. “A future where there is development, respect, guarantee for identity and definitely peace also. We owe it to them. It’s our duty and responsibility too”, she said.

She appealed for working unitedly for realizing the dreams of our future generation.

Describing unemployment as a major challenge, the Chief Minister said her Government is ensuring transparency in recruitments in the Government while as promoting many job rich sectors and simultaneously encouraging private sector so that the spirit of enterprise takes strong roots among our youth.

 

 

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