Claiming that chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is in a difficult situation, senior PDP leader and Parliament Member Muzzafar Hussain Beigh said that he hopes that the government in Jammu and Kashmir lasts long successfully. But it is better to last less than long, if it is not successful and fails the people.Taking a jibe some ministers in the coalition government, Beigh said some of ministers in coalition have become arrogant and abusive. “I think it is very important that the ministers attend their workers and the common people. There is a complaint, which comes time and again, that some of our ministers have become arrogant. Sometimes they are even abusive. Now, they are in the government because Mufti Sahib put them in government. Mufti Sahib is a chief minister because he has a party, his workers and followers. If a minister insults Mufti Sahib’s worker or disappoints him on an issue which they can deliver, where he can provide some relief to that worker, then I think the particular minister is doing a disservice not only to Mufti Sahib but also to the office of the minister. It is also shameful that people tolerate such ministers.”
Without naming any minister, Beigh said the chief minister has to be wary of dream merchants and ‘birbals.’ “You see it is actually the captain who is held responsible for the good and bad game of his team. Sometimes even new comer batsmen have scored centuries. I do not know whether that is the case in the present government. Ultimately, it is the chief minister who has to carry the burden. Does he get the requisite support, not only verbal support, but administrative, political, intellectual, diplomatic support from his colleagues – I don’t know. But the chief minister deserves to get that. The chief minister has to be wary of the Dream merchants and birbals,” Beigh said
He also punctured the claims of the present government of having the liability of Rs 9500 crore from the previous regime, saying if the liability was already ascertained then what was the need of an order being issued by the planning department on or around May 12 to ascertain the liability. “I read in a newspaper that on May 12 or 13 order was passed by the chief minister, directing all planning officers in various government departments to determine the amount of liabilities. If the order has been passed on 12th of May, I don’t know how before 12th of May, we declared. If liability was already ascertained then what was the need of an order being issued by the planning department on or around 12 May to ascertain the liability. Secondly, it is a double edged sword .
If we say that the previous government left some liabilities, NC can go to the people and say look PDP had always said that we did nothing, now they admit that we spent Rs 9000 crore more funds then received from the central government. Then can cite this to their credit,” Beigh told KNS.He also cast doubts over the first budget of the new government presented by the finance minister Haseeb Drabu, saying one has to see whether there is a budget which is realistic and for which one has assured himself and chief minister that the funds will be forthcoming. “I have strong reservations about the words spoken and what the fine print is. I have a sense of what is declared as achievable and what is actually achievable. Because I have some reservations, I think it is not proper for me to talk at length about the budget presented by an ex-colleague, sub-ordinate, friend or whatever you say.”Asked about his views about the coalition and the reports that it would not last long, Beigh said, “I hope it lasts long successfully. But it is better to last less than long, if it is not successful and fails the people.”