Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, July 2: Former Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) vice-president, Omar Abdullah today blamed the previous PDP-BJP Coalition Government of rampant mis-governance and sought an enquiry into the funds utilized for the dredging of Jhelum river. Click here to watch video
Addressing the party’s South Zone meeting at Dak Bunglow Anantnag, the former Chief Minister said there should be an enquiry into the expenditure of funds that were meant for the dredging of Jhelum after the devastating floods of 2014.
He accused the PDP-BJP led Government of “massive scams and rampant mis-governance over the past three and a half years besides pushing the State into an abyss of political uncertainty and widespread disenchantment.”
“What happened to the money meant for dredging the Jhelum? When Mufti Sahab formed an alliance with the BJP in 2014, we were led to believe that one of the main reasons for this sell-out was to facilitate the flow of flood relief and rehabilitation funds to the State. What happened to the Rs 90,000 crore package? Just a few days ago we witnessed how a moderate rainfall for two days brought us on the brink of deluge and destruction as our rivers and flood channels were not dredged and de-silted for the past three and a half years. Is there a massive scam here?”, Omar asked.
NC leader said the people deserve to know who is responsible and what happened to the funds. “Similarly there were massive scams in various other departments where funds have virtually disappeared. Apart from pushing the State into the throes of turmoil and chaos, the PDP-BJP alliance failed on every single basic front of governance as well,” he said.
Omar also refuted the reports that the party could be a part of any Government formation in the State following the collapse of PDP-BJP alliance. “National Conference doesn’t believe in sacrificing its ideological basis for power and the party will not be a part of any attempts for Government formation through rumoured permutations and combinations. We believe in respecting the mandate of the people and will not be a part of any attempts to ridicule and manipulate the aspirations of the people. It is for this precise reason that the party has sought the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly,” he said.
He said that his party is seeking dissolution of Assembly forthwith to put an end to such rumours and horse-trading here. “We don’t demand elections in the State in a hurry rush as we know that the atmosphere is not conducive for the polls. Even the Parliamentary elections were not held in South Kashmir due to the non-conducive atmosphere. So, we only want that the Assembly should be dissolved immediately so that the rumors and horse-trading will come to an end,” he said.
The NC leader said that PDP-Congress forming the Government in the State is just a rumour. “In Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad is the most senior Congress leader and when he has denied the party’s support over the formation of next Government then I believe there was no need to discuss the issue and to pay heed over the rumours.”
Omar said the situation in the State was not conducive for immediate polls. “…we are of the firm believe that only a fresh democratic exercise can repose the faith of the people in the institutions and system of democracy in the State”, he said.
Referring to a query about civilian killings, Omar said: “We all should focus on restoration of peace and to put an end to the civilian killings. To be in power is not my destiny or desire as I could have sat on the chair by going with BJP or someone else but the priority is to bring peace in Jammu and Kashmir and to put an end to the civilian killings here.At least we should bring the situation like 2014 here following which the formation of government can be discussed,” he said.
Asked about BJP’s statement over Article 370 and Babri Masjid, Omar said that the Article 370 and 35-A is currently sub judice. “The Supreme Court (SC) has already stated that the issues will be discussed after summer break. The BJP is always raising such issues prior to the elections and then put them in cold-store. If Prime Minister Narendra Modi could have been serious then he would have eroded Article 370 and also constructed temple at Babri Masjid in four years of his tenure. But unfortunately, such parties are only playing with the sentiments of people by raising such issues to gain votes,” he said.
Asked about the statements of NC leaders over erosions of institutions here, he said that they have already urged the Government to take up the matter. “Some decisions were taken but there is need to re-consider these decisions. At some places, the amount has been spent according to the documents but on the ground nothing has been done. Rs 400 crore has been spent on dredging but where were these crores spent as a day-long rains resulted in the floods like situation here,” he said, adding that the party has already demanded inquiry into such issues.
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