KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Nov 10: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday launched a sharp attack on National Conference (NC) vice president and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing him of having failed to deliver on his promises and of misleading people with hollow assurances ahead of the Budgam by-election.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, Mehbooba Mufti questioned the NC’s performance and the Chief Minister’s credibility, particularly on issues directly affecting the people. “Today, they have nothing to tell the public in Budgam. Omar Abdullah, who once claimed that he would remove smart meters after coming to power, is now openly supporting their installation. Not only that, he is now advising people to install solar panels and promises to ‘look into’ the issue of free power units later. Is this how governance works?” she asked.
Mehbooba said that Omar Abdullah’s repeated U-turns have eroded public trust. “People still remember how his government promised free gas cylinders and the return of under-trial detainees lodged in jails outside Jammu and Kashmir. But where are those promises now? The gas cylinders never reached households, and the under-trials remain where they were. This government has failed on every front,” she remarked.
Taking a further dig at the National Conference, the PDP leader said that Omar Abdullah should first account for his government’s performance instead of indulging in “meaningless rhetoric” and political blame games. “For how long will Omar Sahib continue to distract people by talking about PDP-BJP alliances? The public wants answers — what has he achieved in the past year for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and particularly for Budgam?” she asked.
Her comments come at a time when political activity has intensified in Budgam district ahead of the by-poll, with both major parties — the NC and PDP — ramping up their campaigns to woo voters. The contest is being viewed as a crucial test for the ruling dispensation and a measure of public sentiment ahead of future political realignments in the Union Territory.
