Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Oct 16: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) backing in Rajya Sabha elections would depend on the National Conference led-government’s stance toward key bills introduced by her party.
She also accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, of “normalising” the abnormal governance practices that, she said, took root during the Lt Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Mehbooba said that during the Lt Governor’s rule, several irregularities took place, including the arbitrary sacking of government employees, yet no one spoke out against it.
“Whatever was happening at that time was completely abnormal. When Omar Abdullah became Chief Minister, he normalised it all and neither did he speak against it, nor did he resist,” said Mehbooba.
The PDP Chief further alleged that Omar Abdullah, who once promised legal aid for thousands of jailed youth in his election manifesto, has now gone silent on such commitments.
“He used to talk about Article 370, but today he doesn’t even mention it,” Mehbooba said. “Institutions are being targeted — Falah-e-Aam Trust schools have been taken over by the administration with the signature of Omar Sahib’s own minister and even the open merit category is being rationalised.”
Turning to the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, Mehbooba revealed that National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah had reached out to her, seeking the PDP’s support. “Farooq Sahib called me and said they are in need of our support. I told him that our senior leadership will sit together and decide on it,” she said.
However, Mehbooba also shared that the PDP’s backing would depend on the government’s stance toward key bills introduced by her party. “I told him there are a few bills we had brought during the previous Assembly session — such as the regularisation of poor people living on ‘Kahcharai land (pasture)’ and the daily wagers’ bill. If at least one or two of those are passed this time, we will consider supporting them,” she said.
It is worth mentioning, the Land Rights Bill, introduced by the PDP, aims to safeguard the ownership rights of locals residing on state and Kahcharai lands for decades, seeking to prevent arbitrary evictions and ensure legal tenure for poor and landless families.
Moreover, the Regularisation of Daily Wagers Bill seeks to provide job security and permanent status to thousands of temporary, contractual, and daily wage workers serving in various government departments across Jammu and Kashmir. (KNO)
