Srinagar, Oct 20 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir’s main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Tuesday said its demand for self-rule in the state was equivalent to freedom that does not undermine the sovereignty of India and Pakistan in their respective ruled regions of the territory.
“Self-rule is equivalent to de-facto azadi (freedom)… the freedom from siege - from mental, physical, political siege - but without undermining the sovereignty of India and Pakistan,” PDP president Mehbooba Mufti told reporters here.

She said that the party’s self-rule means freedom of travel to either side of the divided Kashmir without passports.

“Our self-rule also means a government that cannot be pulled down and where we can also elect our governor instead of New Delhi appointing one,” Mufti said.

She said the PDP’s self-rule document also demands foreign direct investment in the state to secure an economic freedom for the people.

Mufti said people of the divided territory should be allowed to use water resources of the state and the Indus Water Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in the 1960s should be re-negotiated as the “state is losing Rs.72,000 crore annually because of this”.