National Conference Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal Friday lashed out at PDP for perpetrating a “politics of contrarianism, hypocrisy and insensitivity towards the youth of the State by promoting those inpiduals who have been involved in wreaking havoc with the future of our youth through wanton corruption and systemic harassment and torture.”“Today PDP has become a safe haven not only for those caught red-handed involved in scams and wanton corruption but also those inpiduals like former SSP Ashiq Bukhari who is a figure sworn with conviction to the repression and harassment of the youth of J&K. Young children in the State have numerous tales of torture and extra-judicial torment to relate when it comes to Ashiq Bukhari. Mufti Sayeed was dreaded for the massacres of GawKadal, Bijbehara and Handwara and AshiqBukkhari is a figure of notoriety when it comes to his brutal and ruthless track-record as a police officer – so this association while very natural is a prime example of what PDP represents as a political party. Mufti Sayeed stands completely exposed,” Kamal said in a statement to KNS.
“Speaking of change while empowering notorious, dreaded figures like Ashiq Bukhari – whose very mention brings tears to the eyes of hundreds of mothers who have lost their young sons and who has a questionable track-record when it comes to extortion from the youth – is as despicable as PDP’s politics can get. Today PDP has lost a right to utter a single word on Human Rights violations in J&K by promoting arguably the most dreaded and ruthless police officer in their party after his retirement,” he said.Kamal also lashed out at PDP for having the nerve to talk of corruption and governance after giving mandate to Khursheed Alam from Khanyar – a former Food and Supplies employee “who has not only made a career out of looting the food and ration supplies meant for the poor and needy but also has a very questionable track-record when it comes to his political and social dealings in the State.”
“It was Khursheed Alam who hijacked every single movement of the employees and made personal fortunes by time and again burying their genuine grievances under his unending lust for money and personal welfare. Had it not been for Khursheed Alam, the demands of the employees would have been met sooner,” Kamal said.“Then there is the curious case of Syed Asgar Hussain from Kashtiwar who was found involved in a huge Panchayat Ghar Electrification Scam during the tenure of Mufti Sayeed as the CM and disciplinary action was taken against his. Surprisingly when Asgar Hussain retired, Mufti Sayeed forgot about his corruption and made him an MLC – just a couple of years after taking action against him on corruption. There are hundreds of such examples in PDP – the party is full of contradictions and hypocrisy,” Kamal said.
He alleged that PDP was in a state of panic and confusion and was admitting political spent-forces, irrelevant entities while at the same time empowering “corrupt retired bureaucrats, criminals and the tormentors of our youth.”“This will dearly cost PDP in the coming elections and will expose the party in front of the people, especially the youth”, Dr. Kamal added. Dr. Kamal said that Sheikh Ghulam Rasool had absolutely no political standing or ideology and was singularly guided by his personal interests in public life. “Why didn’t he resign from the post of MLC all these years if he had these grievances or was the salary of an MLC too tempting to do so? Sheikh Ghulam Rasool has not let us down – we are happy to be rid of him as he had estranged some of our valuable workers in Ganderbal – but he has let himself down for proving to be a turncoat at this stage of his life. There is celebration in our party in Ganderbal about Sheikh Ghulam Rasool’s departure and he will be a political liability wherever he goes – so we have absolutely no regrets. Apparently his son has business dealings with PDP leaders and as is human nature – one is never satisfied no matter how much wealth one accumulates. It is sad that he had to do this to himself at this stage of his life – but one cannot preach morality and ethics to those who have no value for them,” Kamal added.