Srinagar, Dec 24: Welcoming Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq highlighting people’s sufferings due to governance ‘failure’, opposition Peoples Democratic Party Saturday said like-minded people can unite to fight for people’s rights and against the ‘anarchy’ in Jammu and Kashmir.
“There is total breakdown of state administration. It is anarchy here. We welcome Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s statement yesterday. Our party and patron have time and again said that despite difference in political ideologies like-minded people can fight together on common issues pertaining to people’s day to day life. This government is acting like monarchy rediscovered,” senior PDP leader Tariq Hamid Qarra told media persons here after leading a protest rally against National Conference-Congress coalition government.
The protest was part of PDP’s state-wide program against corruption, mis-governance, inflation, erratic power supply and harassment of youth. In his Friday sermon, Umar had accused the Government of failing miserably to provide electricity, water and other basic amenities, terming it as “incompetent and inefficient.”
“Their goal is resolution of Kashmir and ours is same though approach is different. But we can fight united on common issues,” said Qarra, joined by senior party leaders including General Secretary Muhammad Dilawar Mir.
The former Finance Minister alleged that facilities like power, water and essentials including sugar, cooking fuel have disappeared and black marketing and overcharging has become rampant.  Ironically, he said, National Conference had come to power on the promises of good governance.
Earlier, dozens of PDP workers shouted anti-Government slogans, accusing it of piling sufferings on people. As they marched towards Regal Chowk, police deployed near Polo View intercepted the rally, asking the protestors to disperse. But the PDP workers staged a sit-in near Polo View crossing.
Addressing the rally, Qarra said: “There are more than 500 cases registered against youth and minors in the Valley. They should be withdrawn and all detainees should be released. Government is silent on 120 youth who were killed during 2010 summer unrest.”
“There is political bankruptcy to the extent that 75-year old party (National Conference) is talking about frivolous issues like opening of liquor shops. A compromise is being made on honor of people, culture and ethos for chair. No sane person will talk about these issues when people’s survival is at stake,” he said.
Qarra said government is befooling people by claiming that powers have been transferred to Panchayats. “It is a drama. Why did the Panchs and Sarpanchs resign in Chief Minister’s constituency?” Qarra asked, adding that Government has failed to conduct Municipal polls for last two years.
Mir accused the Government of completely disappearing from the scene and escaping to the comforts of life outside the state. He alleged that “drama” on AFSPA revocation by Omar Abdullah government was only to divert attention from the suspicious death of “their close confidante, Haji Yousuf, who had exposed rampant corruption in the higher echelons of Abdullah family.  Now they have gone into hibernation,” Mir said.
A statement issued by PDP said senior party leader Moulvi Iftikhar Ansari and MLC Muhammad Ashraf Mir addressed workers at party headquarter here.
The statement said separate rallies were taken out by PDP leaders including MLAs and MLCs- former and incumbent- and workers at different places including Kupwara, Kangan, Beerwa, Doru, Pahalgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Khansahib Budgam, Chrari Sharief,  Bijbehara, Langate, Islamabad (Anantnag), Ganderbal, Kulgam, Baramulla, Uri, Sumbal Sonawari, Kokernag, Devsar, Wachi, Rajpura and Pampore.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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