Mehbooba Mufti slams NC Govt for failing pre-poll promises

Srinagar, Oct 12: Accusing the National Conference (NC) government of “not fulfilling” its pre-poll promises, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday drew parallels with then Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi, saying the latter focused on developmental works despite governing in a Union Territory.

“It has been one year since the government has been in power here but they haven't done enough despite promising jobs, free power supply and other incentives. Kejriwal gave free electricity to people, while over here consumers are being charged heavily. There are even talks of water charges now,” Mehbooba said while addressing a party workers' convention at Eidgah, here.

The PDP President also criticised the National Conference for its policies on job reservations, saying “there is complete injustice against open merit candidates.” “All they (NC government) keep talking about is statehood. Will people here starve or continue facing injustice till the time it is restored,” Mehbooba lamented.

Blaming the J&K administration Mehbooba said: “Instead of encouraging participation of youth in sports, they tried to lay their hands on playgrounds such as the Tabela ground in Chattabal. The aggrieved youth went to Omar sahab but he showed his helplessness. There were also plans to construct a memorial at the MET ground in Baghat here but I urged the administration that these grounds should be exclusively meant for common people,” she said.

The former CM said erstwhile PDP government made all possible efforts during its tenures to launch pro-people measures. She said her party, despite having less representation in the Assembly, was making huge efforts to safeguard people’s rights, especially about land and jobs. “They (NC) have been in power for 5 decades but not enough has been done. When in power, our government did everything possible from disbanding the task force to launching schemes for food subsidy and women’s empowerment,” she said.

Mehbooba said there was no space for dissent in today’s times, adding that anyone making an “attempt to openly speak up is intimidated,”. “There are thousands of individuals languishing in jails. If not get them freed, the government can at least try and get them back to jails in J&K,” she said. Ever Since the formation of this government, the instances of action against people, be it attaching of properties or suspensions of government employees, have increased, she added. “Forget Article 370, they are unable to even convey basic issues of common people to New Delhi,” the PDP president added.