J&K govt formation: Omar Abdullah accuses PDP of leaving Kashmir in "tatters"

Srinagar: Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday accused PDP of leaving Jammu and Kashmir in "tatters" saying the party was staying away from government formation in an attempt to undo the "wrongs" which led to "political and economic uncertainty" in the state.

"The ink-pot (symbol of PDP) party has left the state in tatters and is now busy trying its best to undo the wrongs which led to political and economic uncertainty in the state," Omar, who is working president of National Conference, said addressing a function in his Beerwah constituency of Central Kashmir's Budgam district.

However, PDP said instead of giving sermons, National Conference should introspect itself, accusing it of "misleading the people systematically and exhibiting political wickedness by viciously attacking the party".

Omar said the PDP created an impression among the people before joining hands with BJP that the Centre will "open" its treasure chests for Kashmir.

"They promised huge economic and political packages but nothing happened during the 10-month of its rule from March to December last year," Omar said reciting the famous Urdu couplet "Na khuda hi mila, na visaal-e-sanam".

He alleged that the PDP and BJP have together done such a thing which the people of the state have never imagined.

"For their pretty political considerations, the two parties have created a wedge among the people of all the three regions of the state.

"Now the situation has reached such a point where the people hate each other.

"The burning alive of a trucker at Udhampur is the glaring example of the achievements of PDP-BJP coalition," he said.

Omar "blamed" PDP for the implementation of Food Security Act in the state and claimed that it has deprived the people of ration.

"PDP also left the flood victims of 2014 to lurch and handed over the state affairs to RSS.

"Its anti-youth policies generated anger among the youth. This is the achievement of the PDP government," he said.

Terming the delay in the formation of government by PDP as a "political ploy", the former Chief Minister said "why PDP is not putting its demands before the public?.

"If PDP is really seeking anything for the people from the Centre, why the people are not informed? The people should also know what the party is seeking from the Centre or whether the BJP will fulfill its demand or not," he asked.

Lashing out at the National Conference, PDP General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir said after having "failed to provide any relief to the people in six years of chaotic rule, National Conference is now trying to subvert any chances of movement in line of peace and political stability for its own oblique motives".

"Today the NC leadership is giving sermons on PDP's 10 months of governance but they have conveniently forgotten their role in Haji Yousf's mysterious death, Markundal killings, Gool atrocities, Gargrin killings, BOPEE Scam, Cricket Scam, Drug Scam, death of infants at Children Hospital, PHE Scam, land grab scam...

"Despite having full support of the Centre and alliance partner - Congress, Omar could not achieve anything for the people instead he used the ally Congress' support to unleash terror on the people and just survive as a chief minister," Mir said.

The PDP leader said the necessity to have a common minimum program in any coalition is "inevitable" otherwise "we have a recent example of Omar Abdullah heading a coalition without any agenda or Common Minimum Programme.

"In absence of any such agenda the only aim of a person becomes to be the Chief Minister for the sake of it.

"PDP does not want to repeat Omar Abdullah where a closed door deal was concluded with the Congress in half an hour in December 2008, with just one condition that he will be the Chief Minister for six years," he said.

Mir said instead of getting anything substantial for the state he eroded the "prestige of the Chief Minister's position and bartered the State's interests for power".

He said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has shown "political maturity" and it is her immense "desire and vision of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed to empower the state and restore its prestige glory but the National Conference is misleading the people for its own political gains without even introspecting what disservice the party had done to the state and its inhabitants".