Dy CM-Para spar over nepotism allegations
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 4: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed ur Rehman Para today engaged in a heated verbal exchange in the Legislative Assembly over the allegation of honouring Nasir Sogami’s son with the State Award on the 77th Republic Day.
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The ruling dispensation, particularly the Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, took strong note of this allegation and reminded the PDP leader of giving a cabinet berth to a “photographer relative” of the Mufti family during their Government in the then State.
He was referring to Tasadduq Husain Mufti, who was made the Tourism Minister in the Mehbooba Mufti-led Government.
Speaking during the Motion of Thanks on the Lieutenant Governor’s Address, PDP legislator Para said that while the National Conference (NC) leadership frequently targets the J&K BJP over the decisions of August 5, 2019, it maintains silence on the issue in Delhi.
He said that with a massive mandate of over 50 MLAs, the NC leadership should appeal to the Centre to initiate a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Referring to the recent closure of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, Para said the decision reflected a perception in the Jammu region that students from Kashmir continue to be radicalised even after becoming doctors and engineers.
“And this assertion was reinforced by a recent incident in Delhi, where a blast allegedly involved a Kashmiri doctor. The present leadership needs to introspect why such incidents occur,” he said.
Para claimed that such incidents stem from a sense of disillusionment among the youth of Kashmir, who, he said, believe that the National Conference has failed to address their concerns despite enjoying a strong public mandate. He said a feeling of defeat prevails among the youth.
He alleged that the NC government has completely failed to address issues related to merit, reservation, and the release of political prisoners.
While acknowledging that the release of prisoners does not fall within the direct domain of the Minister, Para said the government could at least raise the matter with the Union Government instead of attempting to silence J&K BJP leaders.
Para said former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah have claimed that large central funds were received under the Special Assistance Scheme, but questioned why the money has not been utilised for developmental works on the ground.
He said that during pre-budget consultations with the Chief Minister, he raised 15 demands, all of which were reportedly included in the scheme, yet not a single work has been tendered despite the release of Rs 25 crore last year for Pulwama district.
“What is the purpose of securing central grants if they are not utilised?” he asked.
Para further accused the Omar Abdullah government of recycling the same statistics in several departments that had already appeared in last year’s vision document.
He alleged that instead of using its mandate for public welfare, the government is dehumanising the people of Kashmir, which, he claimed, was reflected in Budgam where the ruling party suffered defeat at the hands of the PDP.
He also accused the Omar government of misleading the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the reservation issue, stating that the matter could have been resolved through a simple notification by the Social Welfare Department rather than by constituting a Cabinet Committee.
On the issue of National Law Universities, Para said the matter could be resolved by establishing two such institutions, one each in the Jammu and Kashmir regions, if the government so desires.
He alleged that the NC, instead of confronting those in power, has chosen to speak harshly against the poor and vulnerable sections of society.
Criticising the NC government for granting Cabinet-rank status to Nasir Aslam Wani (Nasir Sogami) in the Omar Cabinet, Para said the party believes in conferring “special status” on its leaders and their families.
He referred to the State Award conferred upon Saadat Nasir Sogami, son of Nasir Aslam Wani, in the category of Social Reforms and Empowerment.
He said the award should instead have been given to Irfan Sarkar, a youth from Pulwama, whose cricketing initiative was mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his radio programme Mann Ki Baat.
Several NC leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Salman Sagar, Arjun Singh Raju, Abdul Majid Larmi and Altaf Kuloo, strongly objected to Para’s allegations. The Deputy Chief Minister reminded the PDP leader that his party had appointed a relative who was earlier a photographer as a minister in the State Cabinet.
He was referring to Tasadduq Hussain Mufti, who was made Tourism Minister in the PDP-BJP Government led by Mehbooba Mufti.
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