Srinagar: In the wake of populist measures taken by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, opposition PDP on Sunday said the ruling NC had "wasted" six years in power and was now trying to "sell moon and stars" to the people in its last bid to retrieve some ground.
"Governments are elected by the people for giving good governance and not wasting the full tenure by pursuing anti-people policies and then in the last moment trying to sell moon and stars.
"The rout in Lok Sabha elections has served National Conference (NC) a big blow and they have now suddenly realized that people who had reposed faith in them for many decades have become fully aware of its dirty tricks and deceitful politics," PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said here.
She said NC has taken the people "for granted" over the decades because they had in the past been able to "exploit" their emotions through "hollow slogans" and also "subverted" the electoral system to enjoy power in spite of their "misdeeds, corruption and nepotism".
Citing the "clear lead to PDP" in Lok Sabha polls, she said "Omar has displayed a total desperation" ever since, as he had demonstrated that good governance was neither his priority nor ability in the last six years.
Mehbooba, the Member of Parliament from south Kashmir`s Anantnag constituency, said after having been "rejected" by the people in Lok Sabha polls, it has suddenly dawned on the NC that they could even lose power in the state later this year.
"The NC leadership is frightened by the defeat in LS polls
and the prospect of looming rout in the forthcoming Assembly elections and that is why in desperation they have virtually pushed the state into virtual anarchy and chaos," she said.
Referring to the poll-time "populist" measures taken by the state government, the PDP president said it was not because of any concern for the people but "their fear of losing power" which is now leading the ruling party to take "desperate measures" in the dying hours of its tenure.
"The state is currently facing severe financial crisis where even regular employees are not able to get salaries for months together. Omar has emptied treasuries even before setting a `life saving" populist agenda for himself," Mehbooba claimed.
She said Omar government was now trying to "mislead" people through "fake promises and deceptive announcements".
"How could NC do in six months what they have not been able to do in six years? Stone slabs are likely to witness a sharp rise in prices as the government, on its way out with disgrace, is laying foundation stones of pipe dreams all around the state in its last bid to retrieve some ground," she said.
Mehbooba was speaking at a function to welcome political activists from Rajouri and Kupwara into the party fold.
