National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah addressed a meeting of prominent citizens and elders at the Shah-e-Hamdaan Community Center at Khankah-e-Moulah in Shehar-e-Khaas. Dr. Farooq Abdullah was accompanied by Senior National Conference Leaders including Minister for Rural Development Ali Muhammad Sagar, NC Provincial President and MLA Amira Kadal Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Zadibal and NC's Srinagar District President Peer Afaq and NC Provincial Vice President Mohammad Sayeed Akhoon. Later in the afternoon Dr. Farooq Abdullah also addressed an impressive public meeting at Chanpora, Amira Kadal Constituency organized by MLA Amira Kadal and NC Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani.
According to a statement issued, speaking at these two events, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that PDP during their tenure in the government did little beyond talking and raising hollow slogans and had no achievements to show in terms of governance and development. Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had an uncanny ability to claim credit for the achievements and contributions of others and it is this tendency to lie that showcases PDP's lack of ability and will to perform for the welfare of the State.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that it was Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah who conceived the vision of reviving the ancient Mughal Road and took the first initiative in this connection. It was the National Conference government of 1996 that took this vision forward and sought funds from New Delhi for the Mughal Road and saw the completion of the first, crucial 40 kilometers of stretch on the Mughal Road. During PDP's tenure little was done for the Mughal Road project and it was the Omar Abdullah led government that saw the project through.
Similarly, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said Mufti's noises on corruption were hypocritical and ironic given the fact that Mufti Mohamamd Sayeed as the Chief Minister of J&K attained the dubious distinction of J&K being the most corrupt State in the country. It was the Omar Abdullah led NC-Congress government that reconstituted the State Accountability Commission (SAC) that was made defunct and dysfunctional by the PDP government so that its Ministers who were implicated in scams could be saved. It was the Omar Abdullah government that constituted the State Vigilance Commission (SVC) and brought in a water-proof, historic Right to Information (RTI) Act. Today the Omar Abdullah led government has provided the people of J&K with the tools to eradicate the last signs of corruption from this State.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that there was no doubt left about PDP's tactical understanding with Narendra Modi, given how PDP had tried to work openly in helping the BJP candidates in Jammu by diluting the anti-BJP vote. Dr. Farooq said that there were apprehensions that BJP wanted to use PDP to fulfill its long-standing dream of abrogating Article 370. What is most unfortunate is that Mufti Sayeed had readily become an accomplice in this plan without considering the sentiments and aspirations of the people of J&K. Dr. Farooq Abdullah said that National Conference would continue to safeguard the identity, culture and special status of the State of J&K - a cause for which the party had rendered innumerable sacrifices.