Islamabad, Apr 28: Coming down heavily on the state Government for adopting “repressive measures” and “intimidating” the youth for participating in last year’s protests, Peoples Democratic Party President (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, Thursday said that the Valley was being “pushed back into the renegade Ikhwan era.”
“It is unfortunate that the youth who participated even in the funeral processions of their friends and relatives are being intimidated by the police by showing them their photographs and video clips,” Mehbooba said while addressing the party workers here in south Kashmir. 
She said the “repressive policies” adopted by the present dispensation against the innocents were “worse than those adopted by Israel in Palestine.”
“Instead of trying to heal the wounds of Kashmiris state government is talking of creating juvenile jails with better facilities where they can lodge minors who are booked under the draconian laws. The sense of insecurity and uncertainty has again crept in since the present coalition took over and it seems that the renegade Ikhwan era of the mid nineties is back and Government is reviving it,” Mehbooba said.
She also expressed her concern over the purpose of organizing public darbars by Police.
“It is irony that the police whose job is to maintain law and order and ensure that human rights are not violated are holding public darbars and promising the people of providing roads, water and electricity. While the government is invisible on the ground and the crime graph is on the rise,” said Mehbooba.
The state government she said did not bother to initiate probe into the recent incidents of Pakherpora, Ganderbal and Tral were people were killed by unidentified gunmen.
She also blamed the National Conference for vitiating the atmosphere of the state and creating division among masses. “In 2009, the rape and murder of two girls in Shopian was termed as a mere accident and then in 2010, 117 innocent persons were killed and sometimes labelled as PDP workers, later unemployed youth and then even drug addicts. Now again issues like issuing Dogra certificate, taking away the autonomous status powers of JK Bank and the decision to impose property tax are being done to instigate people and create further disturbances,” said Mehbooba.
She said that the issue of Dogra certificate about which even Army expressed their ignorance was being raised only to divide people on communal and ethnic lines.
Blaming the NC for befooling the masses, Mehbooba said, “In the past they used to deceive people by showing them green flag and rock salt. But our party not only brought green flag here but salt too,” said she adding that all their promises have turned to be hollow.
She said that NC was even discrediting the state institutions and the recent cross voting by BJP MLAs for Legislative Council seat and nullifying the Panchayat verdicts in Kangan villages were our workers had managed a comprehensive victory were some of the examples.
NC has lost its credibility among the people,” she said.
Mehbooba also blamed the National Conference for hushing up the case of cold blooded murder incident of three teenagers in Anchidora area of Islamabad town last year allegedly by police.
Assuring the people that his party would always work for the welfare of people, Mehbooba said that they will always be for the protection of people and safeguard their dignity and honour.
 PDP President said while the state government had failed to implement any development plan throughout the state. Certain areas have been apparently marked out for a kind of development.
“People were being punished for having a government that has earned highest disapproved rates in the history of the state through its inefficient performance,”  she said.
She also expressed her concern over the ignoring the Islamabad town in particular with regard to the development.
 Mehbooba said not only the rural areas but even the Srinagar city was experiencing a night mare in terms of infrastructure and services. But, the problems inflicted on Islamabad (Anantnag) town and other such areas of historic importance are an indicator of the low thinking of the present coalition. The PDP president expressed concern at the shelving of projects like a Medical College for Islamabad (Anantnag) and construction of a flyover  at  Khanabal. She said these projects need to be revived immediately for the betterment of the area.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST