New Delhi, Nov 22: Vice president of ruling People's Democratic Party in Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti today called on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and requested him to include the state among drought affected areas.

Describing the meeting as a courtesy call, Mehbooba said that she had requested the Prime Minister to include J&K among drought affected states as the less rainfall had affected the farmers very much. She sought Central assistance in tackling unemployment and said that the Centre should help the state government in raising additional battalions of Indian Reserve Police or create new battalions.
"After all we have to see that the menace of unemployment is tackled at war footing," she said. Considered to be a fire-brand leader who led PDP to an impressive victory in the assembly elections, Mehbooba also sought relief from the Centre for re-starting gas turbines in Srinagar to help tide over the power crisis. "We want to give basic relief to the people and for that providing electricity is essential," she said.
Later, the PDP vice president also called on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and discussed matters of mutual importance with her.

Bureau Report