Will protect socio-political aspirations of people: Hakeem

Budgam, Aug 12: Chairman JK Peoples Democratic Front (JKPDF) and former minister Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen on Saturday reiterated his party’s resolve to fight for the “restoration” of the constitutional and democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Restoration of constitutional and democratic rights and protection to the identity, dignity and honour of the people was the core mission of PDF,” Hakeem said while addressing a party workers’ meeting of zone Budgam here.
The meeting, according to the party’s statement, was convened to take stock of the prevailing socio-political situation in J&K.
Hakeem Yaseen on the occasion said, “The guarantees to the basic rights of people were imperative for building mutual trust and confidence. The restoration of rights on land and employment to the domiciles was fundamental to build mutual trust and remove prevailing socio-economic uncertainty in J&K.”
He urged the Centre to initiate meaningful CBMs to bridge the gap of “prevailing mistrust” about the mainstream, adding that the paramount need of the hour was to promote value-based politics that would usher unity, amity and prosperity, and not create hatred and animosity.
“Every initiative towards nationalization should include every sect, every region and every religion to show a real picture of the secular and plural character of the country, which has a glorious history of unity in diversity,” the PDF chief said.
Hakeem said while it was obligatory for every citizen of the country to be a true patriot, it was equally important that the people at the helm of affairs do not give any place to trust deficit in its relations with the general public. “As a goodwill gesture towards bringing peace, normalcy and development, the Centre should address genuine demands and aspirations of the people of J&K without any further delay,” he said, adding, “All hopes and aspirations of the people have been hurt by unilaterally bifurcating and downgrading Jammu and Kashmir State into two miniature union territories. Even towering legal experts of the country have observed that the step was legally not in consonance with the Constitution.”
Yaseen also called for curbing activities of the fringe elements indulging in spreading communal hatred, religious intolerance and polarisation of society for petty political gains.
“Governments may come and go, but what was supreme is to protect the pluralistic credential of the country,” the PDF chairman said, adding that unity in diversity was the hallmark of India’s centuries-old ethos.