We the undersigned believe that the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led PDP-Congresscoalition in J&K has revived the people's faith in democracy and peace inall three regions of the State by effectively combating the politics of violenceand terror through a "healing touch policy".
Despite Mufti Sahib's readiness to step down as CM, in accordance with thepower-sharing agreement made in 2002, India’s national interest would be bestserved by his continuance in office as Chief Minister so that he can consolidatethe forces of peace, democracy and development that have been set in motion.
As a regional party, the PDP is better able to represent the aspirations of theKashmiri people for autonomy and self-governance especially at a time when thepeace process with Pakistan is on the move. It would be particularlyinappropriate to bring about a change of leadership at a point when the Statehas still to recover from the tragedy and trauma caused by the recentearthquake. We therefore appeal to the Congress leadership to let Mufti continueundisturbed in the larger interests of India and the enlightened self-interestof the Congress itself, which would gain credibility by such an act ofself-abnegation.
Advertisement
Sd:
Ashis Nandy, Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of DevelopingSocieties
Dhirubhai Sheth, Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of DevelopingSocieties
George Verghese, Centre for Policy Research
Jaiprakash Narayan, Loksatta
Air CommodoreJasjit Singh, Institute of Defence Studies
Madhu Purnima Kishwar, Manushi
Maja Daruwala, Human Rights Advocate
Moosa Raza, Former Chief Secretary, J&K
Pran Chopra, Former Editor, Statesman
Satish Kumar, Editor, National Security Review
