Opposition PDP in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday alleged the state government has not followed any criteria while deciding on creation of new administrative units and it was an "election gimmickry" having potential to turn the situation "volatile". "After government announced the decision, people in many areas have erupted in protests against injustice done to them by not including their areas in the list (of new units). "Many people have said they would immolate themselves and I have apprehensions that God forbid some incident might happen and the situation may turn volatile," PDP president Mehbooba Mufti told reporters here.
The Leader of Opposition in the state legislature demanded that the government should listen to the protesting people and accept their genuine demands, saying "what difference would it make to add a few more areas to the list already increased by the government against Ganai's recommendations". She alleged that the National Conference-led government has "poisoned" the atmosphere in the state for their political gains. "There is no area in Jammu and Kashmir, and especially in the Valley, where people are not protesting. This has turned into an area-wise fight. The atmosphere has been poisoned by the government only for their electoral gains. This is an election gimmickry," she said. Mehbooba said the government did not follow any criteria while notifying the new units and the whole exercise was turned into a "symbol of prestige". "PDP-Congress government had constituted Bloeria committee for this exercise and this government constituted Mushtaq Ganai committee for the purpose and only those two committees had the mandate to nominate any areas, but the government has not followed any criteria now and this has been a free for all exercise," she said. PTI