People Power

Firstly I would like to thank everyone who has turned up at this venue inthis scorching heat. We decided to hold a convention in every district so as tojudge how and where we stand. The turnout here in Jammu has given me high hopesabout everywhere else.

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) was formed on 28th July 1999, and todaywe complete six years of existence. When I look back at these six years, I feelthat there is a lot of change in the situation. When PDP was formed, we did notsay anything that was new but simply stated the obvious. Perhaps the obvious wasnot getting articulated. We said that being a large democracy, India had toremember that that it is the people who are fountainhead of power. For afterall, a democracy is of, for and by the people. Which is why we said that inorder to bring peace and prosperity back to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, itwas very important to win back the hearts and minds of the people, without whichno success was possible. And that was our basic policy that we stuck to.

The people of Kashmir had suffered a lot in the previous fifteen years. Theydeserved some relief. The gun was no solution and dialogue was the only way out.But at that time, when we shouted "Grenade se naa goli se, baat baneygee bolisee"  everyone laughed at us. And then the 2002 assembly electionhappened. We performed well, but could have done better. No party got amajority. We started negotiations with everyone to form an umbrella group. Ahuge political party like Congress was also convinced by our ideas and so was CPI(M),some independent MLAs and even Panthers Party. We all came together to form thiscoalition government.

Our common minimum programme was so convincing that even the BJP-led NDAgovernment had no other option but to accept and endorse it. I was looking at alarger picture to turnaround the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. When I saidthat J&K would enter a peaceful era, some people said that it had to happenas an after-effect of 9/11. But it was not that easy.

People living near the LoC were seeing death and destruction everyday due tocontinuous shelling. They could not walk, or even sleep. So the ceasefire cameas a real occasion for celebration. For it meant that they could work in their fields and live without fear once again. We also stepped in to do what wecould for the farmers whose land had been mined and crores of rupees were givenaway for this purpose.

This government created an atmosphere of peace and encouraged politicalactivity as is normal in any other part of India. We promised a bus servicebetween the two parts of J&K. And that promise was fulfilled -- that busservice has started. Even the Hurriyat Conference went to Pakistan through thatbus. We did not oppose it. After coming back from Pakistan the Hurriyat isholding rallies all over the state. Does any one stop them? No. During his termas Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee had extended the hand of friendship toPakistan from Kashmir. Had anyone imagined that the Prime Minister of Indiawould hold a public rally in Srinagar? No.

It might seem immodest to say it, but perhaps it is time to acknowledge thatit is we who made it possible.

In spite of all odds, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh went ahead with theSrinagar-Muzafarbad bus service. Some people criticized the move, but the PrimeMinister trusted us, as he should trust his own people and realised that thebus, apart from everything else, is a human issue. Which is why travel without apassport and a visa was allowed too.

That is not all.  The SAFMA delegation from Pakistan visited the state.They went back and told everyone back in Pakistan that J&K had a democraticand progressive atmosphere. Only few days back, Wagah border opened for tradeafter almost fifty years. Iran Gas pipe line is also bringing India and Pakistantogether. As I speak, another batch of people has crossed the LoC via the bus.

I have said earlier as well that the peace process is irreversible and willgo on. No one can stop it . Every other option that includes war has beeneliminated. And that has been our biggest achievement -- peace with dignity. Wetold the security forces that anti-insurgency operations were all right, butinnocent civilians should not suffer. We told them that these are our own peopleand had to be protected. Now the security forces acknowledge if they make amistake. Isn’t it a change?

We managed to create a responsive government. A government that is responsiveto regional aspirations too. Every region of the state gets its due share. Todayno one can even say that a particular part of the state is ignored or anotherpreferred. I challenge anyone to say that there is a discrepancy in ourattitude. Not even our opponents can dare to say that.

Jammu and Kashmir as a state is evolving like old times. It needs to be givenspace to evolve. The Baglihar project is our jugular vein. It is the biggestproject undertaken by the state government. Imagine what would 900Mws ofelectricity do to the development of the state. There is no breach of any treatyin this project. I say without any fear that Indus Water Treaty is an unfair andan unjust treaty as far as J&K is concerned. We have no natural wealth hereexcept water. We have the capacity to produce 1600 MWs. Every village and veryhome in J&K will have electricity by 2007.

Lot of people have said all sort of things about our way of functioning. ButI don’t care about any of these statements. I want to carry everyone alongthis path to peace and prosperity. History has put us in a position ofresponsibility. Together we can alter the future of this state. Together we canpull our people out from this unfortunate situation. Only then can we callourselves successful.

And by "we" I don’t mean me or my party members, by "we"I mean every one of you people. We are nothing without you. We have to face thischallenge together. People’s power is the biggest power. I am proud to saythat today the presence of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in front of you is because ofhis workers.

In the end I would like to say that no division is acceptable to us onregional or religious lines. We are one, have been one and will be one forever.I thank you all for being here.