*Expresses gratitude to LG’s action on drug menace
Gopal Sharma
POONCH/RAJOURI, May 10: Former Chief Minister and PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti today slammed the Omar Abdullah Government for its failure to deliver on key promises such as unemployment, alleging job and transfer appointments were influenced through money and political connections.
Criticising Chief Minister over his `alleged’ silence on inflation, closure of educational institutions, surveillance in mosques and Iran, the PDP chief said the National Conference Government was given enough time after coming to power, but had failed to address public grievances.
“It has been nearly one-and-a-half years since this government came to power. We remained silent and told our people not to oppose the National Conference. We said give them six months, one year, and then we will see what they do. Today they have 50 seats, but even now, they only focus on their own interest and nothing else,” she said, while addressing party workers’ rally in Poonch.
She alleged that employees were being removed from jobs, surveillance was being carried out in mosques and educational institutions were being shut down without the Chief Minister raising his voice.
“A school like Siraj-ul-Uloom, where poor children studied and became doctors and engineers, was shut down, and Omar remained silent. Unemployment has increased so much, yet Omar is silent. Inflation has skyrocketed, yet Omar is silent,” she asserted.
“A major tragedy happened in Iran, but Omar did not speak a word. Our martyrs were killed, and Omar remained silent. At every stage, Omar stayed silent,” she remarked.
The PDP leader further also alleged irregularities in Government recruitment and transfer processes.
They are “secretly and quietly appointing people to jobs – you may not know this. How are they doing it?”
“They give contracts, saying, ‘You have to appoint 5,000 employees in this department, we will give you commission.’ But who actually pays? The National Conference MLAs and their ministers give their lists- and you already know this, I do not need to explain it”, she alleged.
Hitting out at the NC Government’s poll promise of providing one lakh jobs, she said, “Our youth are waiting, believing that one lakh jobs will be provided. But where will these jobs come from, when officials themselves have to beg at different doors for transfers, paying Rs 20 lakh, Rs 25 lakh, even Rs 30 lakh before a transfer takes place? These habits of theirs have still not changed,” she alleged.
Mehbooba alleged that the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University lacked permanent faculty, and salaries were not being paid on time.
“Is it not their responsibility to see why a university named after Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah Sahib does not even have a Registrar? Why are salaries not paid on time there? Why are there no permanent professors? This is not my job alone. It is the responsibility of the Chief Minister,” she added.
The PDP, she said, had brought a bill to protect poor people, especially Gujjars and Tribals, from eviction and demolition of their homes. “But Omar termed the people of Jammu and Kashmir as land grabbers.”
Mehbooba reiterated her demand for greater administrative empowerment for the Pir Panjal and Chenab regions, including a separate divisional setup and `hill district status’ for Mendhar Sub Division.
She said unemployment and inflation had pushed people into distress, claiming electricity bills and cooking gas prices had increased sharply over the years.
“Earlier, electricity bills used to be Rs 500 and now they are Rs 3,000. Gas cylinders which cost Rs 400 now cost Rs 1,000. Even Dal-Roti have become expensive. But the CM remains silent,” she said.
Mehbooba expressed gratitude to the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha for taking recent steps, to curb the growing drug menace in Jammu and Kashmir and called for collective societal action to address the issue.
She voiced concern over the widespread drug addiction in the Union Territory, saying the problem has deeply penetrated society.
“We are grateful that at this time the Lieutenant Governor has taken notice and efforts are being made in this regard. We must do something about it,” she said.
Asserting that LG is actively taking measures to address it, she added that the drug menace has now become a serious concern for both governance and society, stressing that the issue is no longer confined to an area but to entire Jammu and Kashmir.
“The drug menace has massive impact on the entire government and society. It has spread across Jammu and Kashmir,” the PDP chief added.
Highlighting the social roots of the crisis, Mufti said that widespread depression and frustration among people, especially youth, was a major contributing factor.
“The reason is that ordinary people are depressed, disappointed and troubled. They have things to say but are unable to express them because the biggest problem at this time is that of the youth,” she said.
Mehbboba said the impact of unemployment extends to the entire household and often pushes vulnerable youth towards substance abuse.
“When these young persons become depressed, hopeless and start taking drugs or drinking liquor and at time commit suicide, it affects the entire family and society,” she added.
Taking a dig at the government, she said that the current regime had failed to effectively address the issue.
Meanwhile, veteran socio-political activist and former Trade Union leader, Master Hanif Kalas today formally joined People’s Democratic Party in the presence of Party president Mehbooba Mufti, former minister Abdul Haq Khan and District president, Anjum Mirza during a party programme held at Rajouri.
The joining of Master Hanif is being seen as a major political development for the party in the Pir Panjal area, especially in Thanna Mandi constituency where he enjoys immense public goodwill and influence due to his long-standing social, political and trade union activism.
Welcoming him into the party fold, Mehbooba expressed confidence that his experience, dedication and close connection with the masses would further strengthen the party at the grassroots level and help in addressing the genuine aspirations and concerns of the people of this region.
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