KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Principle Opposition Party National Conference Wednesday held anti-government protest demonstrations here, demanding rollback of National Food Security Act. The protest was organized by party’s youth wing.
Scores of protestors led by its youth president Salman Sagar started protest march from party headquarters Naw-i-Subh here. Senior NC leaders Ali Muhammad Sagar and Nasir Aslam Wani were also present on the occasion.
Protestors were holding banners and placards, scribed anti-government slogans demanding revocation of NFSA. They also demanded punishment to Village Defence Committee member involved in killing of NC member, scheduled power supply to people.
The protestors were scheduled to march towards to Lal Chowk but made court arrests as police party near Kothibagh police station didn’t allow them to proceed further.
They set the effigy of Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on fire before making court arrests as a mark of protest, claiming present regime has failed on every front.
Earlier, taking to reporters, Salman Sagar said that PDP-BJP government has failed on every front. “NFSA has added miseries to the people. People are dying of hunger and government is hell bent upon to curtail the ration quota,” he said.
Sagar added that Mufti led government is even paying no heed to public woes. “Thousands of people across the Valley have protested against the (NFSA) Act. The government has no concern even for those who are dying of hunger,” he said.
He said that reassurances from the government that National Food Security Act (NFSA) is “for the benefit of public at large” have no takers as people in Srinagar and other districts continued protests against the controversial law and are demanding its immediate revocation.
While strongly reacting to the state government’s step to implement the NFSA, Salman Sagar according to CNS described it as a move to implement Union government laws in the state by bypassing the state legislature.
He described the government decision as shocking and alleged that it was a clear sign of PDP’s covert understanding with the BJP to completely undermine the state’s special status.
He demanded ration distribution according to the 2011 census.” NC had left no stone unturned to highlight this demand. We have always represented the aspirations and grievances of the people and we will continue to strive for their best interests. The political interests and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be compromised with,” he said.
He said that remarks about by-passing the state legislature have created panic across the state and is being seen as the first brazen self-admission by PDP of being hand-in-glove with the BJP in a plan to divest the state of its special status.
“The PDP-BJP government of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed continues to alienate the youth of the state as there is an enormous political vacuum since we have a government and a chief minister who have effectively sidelined all core political issues. The political narrative is conspicuously missing and that can have far-reaching adverse implications on the prospects of safety and stability in J&K. All political promises made by the PDP stand ridiculed and abandoned by them – be those promises about the return of power projects, promises about rehabilitating the flood victims, promises about revocation of AFSPA or the promise of going for an alleged ‘Battle of Ideas’ with the Separatist Leadership – most of whom have been persecuted, incarcerated and politically ostracized by the PDP-BJP Government”, he added.
He said that unscheduled power cuts have now become routine. “Power is playing hide and seek. The far flung areas have no power supply at all. In fact, it seems there are power crises created by Mufti led government,” he said.
NC youth Vice president for Kashmir division, Ahsan Pardesi said: “During elections Mufti Sahab asked people to vote for PDP for stopping BJP’s mission 44 but later he joined hands with BJP just for the sake of chair despite ours unconditional support.”
He threatened to launch valley-wide agitation against PDP-BJP government if it failed to mitigate the problems faced by common masses.
He said that Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed “befooled Kashmiris at every stage right from elections.”
He said that Mufti Sayeed justified the move by saying that New Delhi will provide ample funds to state for overall development but as of now Kashmir has received nothing.
“Package of Rs 80,000 crore is a cruel joke with state as it mostly covers the projects already under execution and funds are spread over 10 years. Maximum beneficiaries are executors from outside Kashmir,” he said and expressed concern over the way innocent youths are being ‘killed’ and ‘harassed’.
