Islamabad (Anantnag), Apr 22: Coming down heavily on National Conference (NC) for plunging the state into “misgovernance and corruption”, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (President), Mehbooba Mufti today said that the people have forgotten ‘Azadi’ and are more concerned of getting rid of NC.
 “There is a total failure of governance and people are craving for even basic amenities like water, electricity, roads, education and healthcare. The corruption in the civil administration and government is rampant and the money meant for the welfare of the state goes into the pockets of the ruling party ministers and their favorites,” Mehbooba  said while addressing a series of party workers meetings at Sarnal, Janglat Mandi, Achajipora and Naibasti Municipal wards in this south Kashmir district.
 “People this time are more concerned about getting rid of NC than achieving Azadi (freedom),” said Mehbooba.
 Mehbooba said that people were fed up with the policies of the NC and want to see it off. Accusing the NC for taking the Kashmiris for a ride, Mehbooba said, “If anyone is gaining from the Kashmir issue, it is NC because they have been blackmailing New Delhi for power”.
 She said that NC alienated Kashmiris from New Delhi and New Delhi from Kashmiris and only strengthened its own relationship with them for their vested interests and power.
 Referring to the corruption in various centre sponsored flag ship programs, Mehbooba said, “The money that the centre has been pumping into JK under various schemes like IAY, NREGA, RGGVW, NVYS and like for the overall development of the state and empowering the marginalized community is being siphoned off by the politicians of the ruling party and their favorites leaving the deserving ones high and dry”.  “While the un-employment is at its peak and daily wagers are longing for their wages the retired bureaucrats and are being re-appointed after their retirement,” she added. 
 Mehbooba said the sense of security, honor and dignity which the PDP led government bought among the masses has been totally reversed by the current dispensation.  “More than 5000 youth in the valley were charged for participating in the 2010 protests. Only cases against 400 youth were withdrawn following our protest in the Assembly,” said Mehbooba. 
 She said that the youth who have been booked are mostly students. “People are not even allowed to raise their voice in a democratic manner and are labeled as drug addicts and Lashkar-e-Toiba militants,” she added.
  “Mufti Sayeed has been the Home Minister in the centre, had he been for power he would not have formed PDP but rather continued with his association with Congress and enjoyed top portfolios in the centre,” she said.
 Asking people to strengthen the party , Mehboob said, “ The sole aim of forming the PDP was to bring about the change and get people rid of the politics of deceit and the results were before everybody during our three years stint in the government.”
 She said that the party not only brought sense of security, honor and dignity but also led the state towards progress and ensured equitable development of all regions.
 “ It was because of the achievements of the party that people who were disgruntled with the democratic institutions of the state, came out in large numbers to vote during 2008 Assembly elections. And it was only due to the mutual understanding between New Delhi and NC that it managed to secure all 8 Assembly seats in Srinagar” said Mehbooba.
 She expressed her displeasure over the government apathy towards the Islamabad town.
 “The Islamabad town has totally ignored be it be development of roads, public parks or providing   recreational facilities, parking to the people while the state of the healthcare and education is messy ,” she said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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