Drabu’s ‘reported assertions’ put him and party in dock
Party seeks explanation; Madni asks him to retract statement
Mohammad Sartaj Madni. File Photo
Srinagar, Mar 11: With the Dr. Haseeb A Drabu’s latest assertions on Kashmir having put him in the dock and Peoples Democratic Party clearly on the back-foot, the party’s disciplinary committee today asked Finance Minister to explain the statement attributed to him on Kashmir issue.
“The statement attributed to you (Drabu) about the nature of problem of Jammu & Kashmir has been reported in the newspapers for last two days in which you are reported to have said that J&K is not a political problem but involves only social issues. As you (Drabu) are aware this contradicts the very belief and core agenda of the party,” the disciplinary committee chairman Abdul Rehman Veeri said in a communication to Darbu, party sources said.
“Your statement has the potential of creating a serious dent in the image and credibility of the party. Therefore, you are advised to explain as to why statement detrimental to the party interests was made,” Veeri has asked Drabu.
Meanwhile, taking “serious note” of the Drabu’s statement, PDP vice-president Mohammad Sartaj Madni has asked the Finance Minister to retract the statement immediately.
In a statement issued today, Madni advised all the senior party leaders to be careful in their statements and observations while commenting on the basic political philosophy and core agenda of the party.
Madni said the party recognizes Jammu and Kashmir as a political issue and ever-since its emergence the party has relentlessly been pursuing its resolution through reconciliation and dialogue, both at internal and external levels.
Recalling the “vision” of party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Madni said that resolution of Kashmir problem formed “core of his struggle and sacrifices”.
PDP vice-president said it is unfortunate that the problem is seen by some forces in the sub-continent as a “mere management assignment to contain peoples’ aspirations and the resolution commitment is being aimlessly undermined”.
Acknowledging the difficulties in taking the resolution of the issue speedily forward, Madni said PDP feels highly perturbed at the obvious lack of urgency in resolving this issue and reiterates its commitment to uphold party’s stated objectives in which the resolution of the political issue has a paramount importance.
Madni said after the fractured mandate of 2014, PDP entered into “governance alliance” based on the agreement and agenda which is an effort towards seeking a national reconciliation on J&K, besides catalysing reconciliation and confidence building within and across the Line of Control (LoC).
Madni said “PDP is committed to push its agenda for peaceful and dignified resolution of the Kashmir problem which alone will lessen the tension in the region and release huge financial resources of the two countries for development of their economies.”
He said the party firmly believes that “everyone of us must come out of shells of our own making and embark together in the common journey and quest for honour, peace and prosperity as this has been the avowed objective of PDP ever since its formation and growth.”
