Our efforts will bear fruit in coming times, things can’t reverse overnight: NC leader Salman Sagar to Oppn

Srinagar, Jan 15: National Conference (NC) leader and MLA Hazratbal, Salman Ali Sagar today lashed out opposition parties for resorting to undue criticism over the functioning of Omar Abdullah-led government in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the government is addressing concerns of people in a gradual manner and the process will take time as “things cannot be reversed overnight”.

Talking to media persons in Srinagar, the NC leader Salman Ali Sagar stated that the government is laying foundation for a process which will be completed in coming times. He said whether there is an issue of infrastructural development or satellite townships, all things will be cleared in times to come.

He slammed opposition for “cheap criticism”, saying let the opposition do its criticism in coming five years, and let us to do our work in a given period of time.

He said NC is not the partner of BJP in Jammu and Kashmir rather we are part of INDI bloc. “We are not partners of BJP. We are people of INDI alliance. We have alliance with Congress, and not with BJP. It is our opponent who made BJP’s inroads in J&K. However it is a reality that there is a BJP government in place at the centre, and we have to maintain cordial relations with them for smooth functioning of the governance. If there had been others like Congress and CPI(M), we would have maintained same relations with them,” the NC leader as per Greater Kashmir said.

While commenting on a query over satellite townships, the NC leader challenged opposition and asked them to point out a single outsider being given accommodation there. “I challenge opposition parties to identify a single outsider who will be given residence there. This is mere dirty and petty politics. Our opponents need to rest, and introspect on the defeat they faced in recently held Assembly elections in J&K. I will say that such townships are solely for local domiciles,” he highlighted.

“We can never go close to BJP. We have a majority, and people have given us huge mandate. We have no need to fall in BJP’s lap,” he held.

The NC leader strongly criticized the Srinagar Smart City project works which are currently under investigation by Anti-Corruption Bureau.

“From day one, we could see the poor quality of work in the Srinagar Smart City project. Today, our concerns have turned out to be true,” he said.

He recalled how his party was among the first to raise concerns about the Smart Street project. “We had already pointed out the flaws and even held a press conference against it. The work was done in haste, and the time frame given for such large-scale infrastructure projects, including roads and buildings, was unrealistic. Now, we are witnessing the results as the poor-quality construction is being exposed,” he stated.

He further said that the lack of proper planning has led to the present situation.

“Unfortunately, what we predicted has come true. Those in power have been making the same promises for five years without delivering results. However, we are confident that the more they talk, the better we will perform. We believe in letting our work speak for itself,” he maintained.