- Mehbooba Mufti targets NC Government, says strong mandate has not delivered results
Srinagar, April 23rd : Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the government, alleging that it has failed to live up to public expectations despite having received a strong electoral mandate. Addressing a gathering in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, Mufti painted a grim picture of the prevailing situation in the region and said growing unemployment, rising economic distress and increasing public frustration had exposed the shortcomings of the present administration.
Describing the overall condition as deeply worrying, the former Chief Minister said the hardships being faced by the people are becoming more visible with each passing day. She said unemployment among the youth continues to rise, while older sections of society are also struggling under mounting economic pressure. According to her, the burden of inflation, financial insecurity and lack of meaningful relief has left a large section of the population disappointed and disillusioned.
Mehbooba Mufti also voiced concern over what she described as interference in religious institutions and criticised the increase in electricity tariffs, saying such issues were adding to public resentment and distress. She maintained that the people had expected responsive governance and visible improvement after giving a strong mandate, but instead they were witnessing growing anxiety on basic issues affecting daily life.
Targeting the National Conference, Mufti said the party had failed to justify the trust reposed in it by the people. She claimed that despite operating under difficult and often challenging conditions during its own tenure, the PDP had succeeded in taking several initiatives at the grassroots level, whereas the present dispensation had not shown comparable performance or progress.
Referring to economic and trade issues, she highlighted the opening of the cross-Line of Control trade route to Muzaffarabad during her party’s period in government and said the initiative had been intended to stimulate economic activity and reduce tensions. She termed the closure of the route a setback and argued that its continuation could have provided much-needed support to local sectors, particularly the fruit industry, which remains vital to the economy of the region.
On tourism, the PDP chief said destinations such as Pahalgam had witnessed closures and disruptions, affecting a sector that sustains thousands of livelihoods in Jammu and Kashmir. She urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to look beyond routine governance and focus more seriously on the wider regional concerns that are directly linked to public welfare and economic recovery.
Mehbooba Mufti also used the occasion to highlight her party’s record in office, saying the PDP had delivered important infrastructure and institutional developments, including medical colleges and other projects, within a relatively short span of time. She claimed that such achievements had been accomplished in years, whereas other governments had taken decades without producing similar outcomes.
Defending the PDP’s past alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party, Mufti said her party had protected the interests of the region and had not compromised on crucial issues, including power projects. She argued that difficult political arrangements had been handled with care to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir’s interests remained safeguarded.
She further called for greater attention to regional aspirations and demands, including district status for Sopore and hill district status for Uri, which she described as a significant gateway to Kashmir with strategic and developmental importance. In addition, she sought a special package for the Sikh community and appealed to the authorities to extend land lease benefits to labourers, saying such measures were necessary for inclusive and balanced development.