Accusing the state government of putting into operation a policy of vengeance and collective punishment towards Kashmir,\=-senior PDP leader and former Finance Minister Tariq Hameed Karra Sunday said that besides getting shot down by bullets, hapless Kashmiris are now being annihilated physically and economically by spurious drugs and cruel power cuts.“I want to ask the functionaries of this government that if there is really a shortfall of energy import from Northern Grid, why are the people in Kashmir valley only subjected to harsh power cuts, even if they pay more electricity tariff and have far less illegal connections than any other region in the state,” Karra said in a hard-hitting statement issued here today. He wondered that in the same way how and why spurious drugs are being pumped into Kashmir valley only and then supplied to the Children’s Hospital here where hundreds of kids die around the same time when these noxious drugs were administered to them. “Isn’t there a pattern working somewhere that besides slaying them by bullets in their teens why not exterminate our coming generations immediately after their birth,” Mr Karra said and added that unfortunately the National Conference government led by Omar Abdullah seems to have become a collaborator in this lethal anti-Kashmir game-plan.“As a part of its well-designed ploy to impose economic subjugation on the people of Kashmir, the present regime is operationalizing all the devious means to push Kashmiris into perpetual darkness,” Karra said adding that the electricity supply has hit the worst levels since 2002, before which also the NC government had ensured that the state is starved of power.“While power tariff has been hiked manifold by the present regime, the supply has deteriorated in the Valley to the frustrating levels,” he said.Karra said it is not understandable as to how the present government managed the reversal of the power situation which had shown remarkable improvement under the previous coalition government, “We had several winters between 2002 and 2008 as well, but our government ensured uninterrupted power to metered areas and restricted load shedding schedules for the rest”, he said and asked; “Where have the tall promises on Sadak,Paani, Bijli and Rozgar made by the NC leaders, during elections campaign of 2008 gone.
Reminding the Chief Minister of the promises made by him personally with the people during electioneering, Karra said on November 21, 2008, Omar while campaigning in his home constituency Ganderbal had declared that if voted to power his government would work for providing relief to common man by slashing the prices of the essential commodities including electricity. “Besides addressing the issues of unemployment the NC would bring a sigh of relief to Aam Adami battered by soaring prices of commodities. The cost of LPG cylinders would be slashed by Rs 50 and the power tariff would also be lowered drastically besides ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply to the people,” Karra quoted Omar having said. Karra said the slogan of “Meter Hatao Aur Heater Lagao” coined by Omar Abdullah during 2008 electioneering had become very catchy and the time has come for the people to remind the NC leadership of what happened to those promises.Karra said the state’s ruling political elite which is preoccupied with enjoying the luxuries of power while the Aam Aadmi is being subjected to all kinds of cruelties and miseries must remember that they have to go back to the same people to seek mandate again. “The people are fed up with the insensitivity of this self-centered regime and they would respond appropriately to this feeling of utter neglect when the time comes,” he said.