In a rare move by any mainstream political party in the Valley, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is pitching for the resolution of Kashmir issue as an election plank and seeking votes to elect parliamentarians to discuss the problem in Delhi.
"The mandate in favour of my party in the parliamentary elections would accelerate the process of addressing all aspects of the Kashmir problem,"said PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in south Kashmir, while canvassing for his daughter Mehbooba Mufti, who is contesting from the Anantnag constituency against NC's Mehboob Beg.
"We are fighting the parliamentary elections to send credible representatives in the Lok Sabha so that voice of the people of Kashmir could be raised in Parliament with conviction and commitment,"he said.
Claiming that "change is imminent in the state", the PDP patron said: "The party had earlier convinced successive governments in New Delhi to initiate some concerted step for establishing lasting peace in this region."
The PDP is also pushing for inclusion of separatist groups in any dialogue process for determining any political solution to the Kashmir problem.
"The NC-Congress government has reneged on almost all the promises made with the people during the last assembly elections and the coalition government seems to be a rudderless arrangement lacking direction and commitment,"he said.
{{/usCountry}}"The NC-Congress government has reneged on almost all the promises made with the people during the last assembly elections and the coalition government seems to be a rudderless arrangement lacking direction and commitment,"he said.
{{/usCountry}}The PDP pitching for Kashmir resolution is seen as a departure from its earlier stance where the mainstream political party would seek votes on development plank and would stay away from Kashmir issue.