Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 27: National Conference Legislators today boycotted the “smart city challenge” meeting convened by the Chief Minister at SKICC and said the Chief Minister should not try to divert the attention of the people from atrocities, indiscriminate arrests and mass repression by such unproductive, diversionary tactics.
NC Legislators Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mubarak Gul, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Shameema Firdous and Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar boycotted the meeting.
The NC Legislators said the Chief Minister should acknowledge the gravity of the situation in Kashmir and stop persecuting and repressing people while living in a fool’s paradise thinking that such gimmicks will divert the focus from her utter and complete failure. “There is absolutely no clarity on the Smart City prospects for Srinagar and seminars and presentations cannot absolve the PDP-BJP Government of their responsibility to actually deliver on their promises including the broken promise of getting both Srinagar and Jammu included in the Smart Cities list”, the NC Legislators said in a joint statement.
They asked the Chief Minister to apologize to the people of the State for her insensitive remarks and insults while young boys and girls were losing their lives. “Seminars and presentations by private consultants on Smart City challenge cannot wash the blood from the hands of the Chief Minister. Srinagar is a city that has been shut down for more than hundred days now and for her to discuss smart city prospects for a bruised, weeping and mourning city is pathetic and proves that she is disconnected and utterly insensitive”, the NC legislators added.
“Chief Minister had remained silent when Kashmir was robbed of an IIT and IIM and was similarly clueless about the Smart City prospects for the city. Mehbooba Mufti didn’t utter a single word when Kashmir was deprived of vital educational institutions but wants to deflect responsibility through meaningless meetings and charades,” the NC Legislators added.
“We support every initiative of development, growth and modernization of infrastructure and institutions. Sadly the PDP-BJP Govt broke every single promise made in their ‘Agenda of the Alliance’. The CM should accept her failures and acknowledge that she lied to the people of the State, “ the NC Legislators further said.