The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti Friday said the virtual merger of National Conference and Congress in the state has resulted in shrinking of both the parties and NC has finally given up its identity for its survival.According to a statement issued, while addressing various workers meetings in Kahra, Thathri and Drabshala in the Chinab Valley region Mehbooba said though the NC had been playing tricks with the people of the state from many decades but Omar Abdullah’s leadership has proved a last nail in its coffin.She said the performance of the government during the last five years has been the worst for any dispensation. She said while on the day to day governance there was a complete failure even in natural disasters the government failed to respond.
Mehbooba said the response to the earth quakes in the Chinab valley has not only resulted in huge loss to the people but left deep scars in the psyche of people because the government failed even to reach them.She said the chief minister who has time for everything else but he could not find time for visiting the area even once but is now asking the people to vote for the ruling alliance. “It is natural that his participation in the campaigning is proving a huge liability for the UPA,” said Mehbooba adding it is mis-governance and corruption not the PDP responsible for the downfall of NC and Congress condidates.
“NC has completely abandoned its regional character and it can’t survive independently anymore as a political party and that is the reason it is not bothered about the people’s issues,” she said adding this government has nothing to show anything substantial to the people and now the NC has started raising the dead Autonomy issue and safeguarding the Article 370 to befool the people.She said the aim of PDP to fight parliamentary elections is not to seek power for itself but the party will fight to build a national consensus on J&K issue by involving different shades of public and political opinion both in and outside the parliament so that we could find a way forward in the resolution process.
Mehbooba said there is need of having strong and sincere voices from J&K in the parliament who can take-up the issues of people and the issue of the state in the parliament which till now has not been happening as NC would only seek power for the members of the Abdullah.She said the people living in these far-flung areas are facing huge problems and the government has brazenly ignored them completely. She said there is no ration, kerosene oil and other essential commodities available in the market.Mehbooba said besides having Baglihar hydroelectricity located very near to these areas but the people have been left to live in darkness and they are being provided with inflated power bills every month by the power department.