KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference Working President Omar Abdullah Friday declared that the PDP-BJP coalition has lost peoples’ mandate “due to its vision less policies, mis-governance of over nine months and leadership deficit, saying they both are destined to lose their deposits in the event of by-polls”.
“If elections were held now, National Conference will form the government on its own, without crutches of others,” Abdullah said at a public rally in Ramban on Srinagar-Jammu Highway.
The former Chief Minister is on a five-day visit to the Chenab Valley districts of Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar, a party statement said this afternoon.
He pooh-poohed the hype being created by the PDP-BJP combine over one and all issues and described the present dispensation “as a directionless and driver less vehicle which is clueless about its destination”. In this context, he referred to the open feelers being sent by the Chief Minister about change of guard.
“We have nothing with the internal affairs of the coalition government, or whether it is led by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed or Mehbooba Mufti, but the key point is that the state and the people are suffering,” he said, adding that uncertainty over leadership has “demoralised the administration which is in real dilemma as to who is in actual command”. “On the one side Mufti Sayeed is seen working as the Chief Minister in Jammu and on the other Mehbooba Mufti is reviewing the government functioning in Srinagar as de-facto chief executive. The tale-piece of this entire drama is that the BJP is refusing to buy the idea of Mehbooba Mufti taking over as the Chief Minister, covertly questioning as to who has granted such permission to the PDP.”
In lighter vein, Abdullah wondered over the “effectiveness of Mufti Sayeed” as Chief Minister while citing his long speech during the Prime Ministers’ Srinagar rally, encompassing state, national and international politics. “The anti-climax of his political discourse was the virtual snub hurled by Narendra Modi, who minced no words in saying that he needed no advice on Kashmir,” Abdullah said and regretting over the belittling of the institution of a Chief Minister.
Referring to the high spate criticism unleashed by the PDP against National Conference-Congress government led by him, the former Chief Minister wanted to know what Mufti Syed led government has done during the past over nine months except owning the projects taken up or completed during his six-year tenure.
He said “he was feeling a sense of pride and satisfaction when the Prime Minister was brought to inaugurate the projects completed during the six-years of his government”. “This is the acknowledgement of my government’s performance and answer to PDP’s unfounded criticism,” he added.
He said, “the commissioning of 900-MW Baglihar Project stands testimony of the efforts being made by the National Conference led government to usher the state to progress and development.”
“On the contrary,” he said, “the role of the PDP has all along been negative.”
In this context he made a mention of the Kishtwar project, abandoned by the present dispensation, saying this had potential of generating economical energy. “Abandonment of this project depicts the PDP’s mind set which did the same to 1200-MW Sawlakote Project in 2003 that deprived Jammu and Kashmir of much needed power,” he regretted.
Abdullah spelled out the major initiatives like expansion of Jammu-Srinagar Highway, which he said, “his government succeeded in getting approved by the then UPA Government”.
Giving an overview of the political scenario, National Conference Working President said though his party suffered a setback during 2014 Assembly elections yet it remains a grass-root mass movement which identifies itself as a strong bastion of the people irrespective of caste, creed or colour.
“National Conference has never believed in vote bank politics or to bring various religions and regions face to face for strengthening its political constituency. We do not believe in divisive politics, which became very clear when Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah converted Muslim Conference into National Conference,” he said adding that while enrolling new members the party asks about the personal details of the incumbent but not his region or religion.
He said being in the government or outside it does not matter at all for the National Conference which is dedicated to social harmony, peace and wellbeing of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said NC would have been in the government but it opted out simply because, “we found BJP as mismatch ideologically and we are proven right by the inherent contradictions between the two coalition partners now”. “We want the state to flourish as a single entity where opportunities are available to all the three regions and people belonging to various faiths,” he added.
He also dwelt on the issues like unemployment, development, lack of facilities to people, scarcity of rations at CAPD stores.
He regretted over abandoning SKEWPY just because it carried Sher-e-Kashmir prefix.
He pitched for employment of the local skilled and unskilled workforce in the projects undertaken by the union government and pleaded for making the local contractors as stakeholders in the development process.
