Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu Nov 19: President of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti has said the arrival of PDP on the scene has introduced some much needed correctives into the political system of the State.
Addressing public meetings in Khour Gali in Panchari and Krimichi, the PDP president said this had not only ended single party monopoly on power but had promoted contest and competition in Government formation which was the essence of democracy.
Mehbooba said for nearly four decades the National Conference had enjoyed unchallenged power which had turned it into an arrogant and thoroughly corrupt agent of exploitation. “All regions of the State were adversely affected by its insensitive and inefficient rule but in absence of a credible alternative the party got away with its sins. The NC would make a mockery of governance with the confidence that whichever party people voted for power ultimately would fall in its lap. In a way this made the vote cast in favor of other parties valueless”, Mehbooba said.
The PDP president said that her party with its increasing appeal in all regions and a shining record of performance as leading partner in the previous coalition with congress had established itself as the single and best alternative to change the present corrupt and inefficient system of governance.
Mehbooba said the party which came to power on the plank of development, jobs to 8th pass, free electricity to poor, 50 rupee reduction on the price of cooking gas cylinder etc has done everything contrary to those promises. On one hand, Mehbooba noted, NC has been pleading lack of resources for paying wages to daily wagers, casual labor in different departments, enhancing wages of SPOs, or continuation of NYC but on the other hand the Government has been making back door appointments in large numbers.
She said more than 300 people have been re-employed on very highly paid posts by the present Govt after their retirement, thus paying them salary in lakh every month.
Referring to problems of far flung areas, Mehbooba said most of the schools in places like Lander -Bamang are without staff and students are suffering. Roads are in pathetic condition and people are suffering due to lack of drinking water. She said Lander -Bamang area being very far off from Udhampur needs a tehsil of its own to take care of their day to day problems and also a college for the girls and boys of this vast area. She assured the people that PDP will take up these matters of urgent importance with the Govt and also agitate for it if need arises. She also appealed to the people to strengthen PDP as this was the only viable and better alternative available to people.
Mehbooba said the present Government has rendered all the institutions either discredited or defunct including the latest institution of Panchayat. She said the very basic purpose of taking governance to villages has been made into a big joke and it seems these panchayat elections were conducted only to elect four MLCs for the coalition.
PDP president said that Krimchi area has huge potential of tourism so this belt should be brought under tourism map. She especially mentioned towards ancient Pandob temples located in this belt which can be turned into a tourist spot. She also demanded electric supply in local Gujjar basti.
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