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‘Omar Govt did nothing in last one yr’ *Calls for reopening of cross-border routes Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 10: Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today accused the National Conference Government of failing to fulfil its promises even after completing one year in office, claiming that it secured a large mandate in last year’s Assembly polls but has nothing to show when it came to governance and development. Mehbooba said the people participated in the elections in large numbers, even in areas that earlier witnessed poll boycotts, to form a strong government, hoping for stability and relief from years of grievances and problems. “The National Conference-Congress government got around 50 seats, they got MPs, and have three members in the Rajya Sabha now. But despite such a strong mandate, nothing has been done,” she told media-persons here today. PDP leader said people of Budgam showed their respect for Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by giving him a strong mandate in the past elections, but questioned his absence in the segment thereafter. Click here to watch video “Where was he (Omar Abdullah) for the past year? Promises were made on electricity, ration, gas cylinders, and employment, but none of them were fulfilled,” she alleged. Calling the election effort in Budgam “disproportionate” and “misuse” of state machinery, Mufti said, “For just one seat, Omar Abdullah and his entire government are sitting here. Every MLA is going door-to-door, and the entire administration is being used,” she alleged. Asking Abdullah to explain the alleged encroachments in Bathindi, Mufti said, “If you want to talk about land grab, tell people whose names were there on the Bathindi forest land list. Poor people make small houses of four or five marlas. If you want to see grand land grabbing, look at Gupkar Road.” Mufti also said the Bill introduced during her rule aimed to provide ownership to poor families living on small plots for decades. “When we brought that Bill, it was meant for poor families living in one or two-room houses for the past 20-30 years, so that they could get ownership. Omar Abdullah said he would not allow land grabbers to benefit. If one wants to see the biggest example of land grabbing, one should look at Bathindi. “The name of Farooq Abdullah’s house is also on that list. Look at Gupkar Road – after the Indira-Sheikh Accord, prime land was leased at Re 1 per kanal to their (Abdullah) family. They now have 100 kanals of prime land. So, who is the biggest land grabber?” she asked. On the allegations that PDP acts in alignment with the BJP, Mufti accused the National Conference of trying to deflect from its failure to deliver. “They promised free electricity, 12 free gas cylinders, 10 kg of free ration, one lakh jobs, stopping employee terminations and release of political prisoners. Have they been fulfilled? Illegal mining and corruption are at their peak today,” she said. Referring to the National Conference’s charge that “destruction” of Kashmir began under the PDP-BJP rule during the 2016 protests, Mufti cited earlier incidents. “In 2010, there were protests after the Machil fake encounter and the Shopian case. Who was in power then? Who was responsible for Afzal Guru’s hanging?” Mufti asked. Speaking on the plight of daily wagers, Mufti claimed her government had initiated steps for their welfare. “We registered around one lakh daily wagers and framed an SRO policy. We introduced a Bill for their regularisation, but it was not accepted. I stand with them on humanitarian grounds,” she said. PDP president reiterated her call for restoration of revival of traditional trade routes “from all sides”, saying Jammu and Kashmir has been locked in a cage since the abrogation of Article 370. She said the matter goes beyond the question of statehood and must be approached as a larger political issue requiring dialogue and confidence-building measures. “I am not talking about full statehood-I am talking about finding a solution to the problem of Jammu and Kashmir,” she told reporters here. Replying to a question about the restoration of full statehood, Mehbooba said “you have locked Jammu and Kashmir in a cage. I want it opened from all sides.” She urged the Centre to reopen historical travel and trade corridors, including the Suchetgarh route in Jammu and the Kargil-Skardu road in Ladakh region, which once linked local communities across the Line of Control.
