Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice president Omar Abdullah on Monday asserted that ensuing parliament elections are significant since it will have direct bearing on the special status of the state saying that State’s accession with the union of India was accomplished in lieu of various constitutional safeguards for the state and if the safe guards are tempered with the entire scheme of accession will be under question.

While addressing a public meet at Bandipura, Omar said that Jammu and Kashmir is the only state that executed its accession with the Union of India after securing itself certain constitutional safe guards.

“We are not like any another state of India. Every other state got merged with the union of India. We joined our hands with the union on certain conditions unlike other states of India. Does any other state in India have its own flag and constitution? We handshake with Indian union was subject to certain conditions. Today after 70 years forces as are inimical to our status are trying to back track from the conditions. The move will also initiate debate on the fundamentals of accession; there is no second thought about it. It takes two hands to clap,” adding, “After the unconstitutional arrest of sher- e- Kashmir, our special position was unremittingly tampered with to the extent that now it is the pale shadow of what we had achieved from New Delhi, but we would fight any attempt that is aimed to fiddle with our state’s status. We won’t allow any more assail our special status. On the contrary we will strive to get back what was infringed upon. We will work towards to get back the coveted posts of Sadr-e-Riyasat and Prime Minister for our state.”

While rebuffing the uncouth statements of BJP president against Art 35-A, party vice president said that no one knew About Art-35 A until I raised it in the assembly. “I inquired from the then Chief minister about the efforts that were being made by the state government to defend it in the Supreme Court. Only then it came into the realm of debate. In 1947 certain assurances were given to us in the form of securing our identity, and the assurances were for all times. Before Amit Shah, Arun Jaitley also had made some uncouth remarks on art 35-A. Let me put it across that we won’t allow that to happen. Art 370 and art 35- A are articles of faith for us.”

Omar Abdullah while candidly talking about a suitable candidate to Bandipura constituency said, “I am not accusing you of not making our candidate win in this constituency in the assembly elections of 2014. Fault might be lying with us, we did work for the people but we were not able to make public our good work. In elections we didn’t gave you an appropriate candidate who could have made public the good work done by the party. But I assure you that in the forthcoming assembly elections the party will give you a suitable candidate who could advance the cause of development in this constituency.”

While referring to the development works initiated during his stint as chief minister of the state, Omar said that, “During my stint as Chief Minister I left no stone unturned to augment the tourist related infrastructure in this constituency. I doled out Rs 1 Crore for the building tourist huts at Sadrakoot area of this constituency; however at present those huts are inundated under water. My government made all sincere efforts towards investing in tourism related activities in this area; however the momentum was not carried forward by the former BJP-PDP coalition government. I had earmarked Rs 500 Crore for the drudging of World famous Wular Lake but unfortunately the project was stalled by various ministers of the former BJP-PDP government.”

“Nonetheless when we come to power we will revive the Wular Drudging project and restore the lake to its pristine glory. We will make sure that people who get their sustenance from the lake are taken care of. Once in power our government will provide Wood Quota to the fishermen families for building boasts, besides that we will ensure them all help to earn a hassle free substance.”

Omar Abdullah while referring to the issues faced by youth of the state, party president said, “I am alive to the problems the youth of our state is facing due to the serving SRO-202 job policy of the state government. Regrettably the youth of our start are made to work full in lieu of paltry remuneration. During my tenure, I had done away with the SRO-202. I repented for my mistake, but I don’t know what caused the former PDP-BJP government to get it back. I assure you once in power we will do away with SRO-202. I have also undertaken to obliterate PSA from the state. During our government the law was mellowed down, nonetheless I assure you once in power PSA will obliterate from the papers.”

“I don’t back track from this undertaking of mine on the abolition of PSA, if NC is voted to power with a strong mandate the law will go. We are not PDP which promised to dissolve Task force but ended up just changing the nomenclature of it, this is not what I am I going to do. Once in power PSA shall become thing of past.”

Omar while seeking a strong verdict in favor of party’s parliamentary candidate for Baramulla constituency Mohammad Akbar Lone said, “I urge you to send Lone Sb with a huge winning margin to parliament. He has the necessary political wisdom and legal acumen to work for the interests of the state both inside and outside the parliament.”

Among others party’s senior leaders general secretary Haji Ali Muhammad Sagar, Provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani, Mian Altaf Ahmad, Mir Ghulam Rassol Naz, Adv Nazir Malik also addressed the gathering. (KNS)

In a statement PDP today said that Chowdhary Talib Hussain, a well known social activist, voice of tribals, rights activist and the flag bearer of justice for Rasana rape case victim joined People’s Democratic Party in presence of Party President, Mehbooba Mufti.

The statement further says that Talib a crusader for tribal rights has championed the cause of the community vocally and has spearheaded the movement for political empowerment of the youth in the tribal community.

“Hussain is an energetic and hardworking activist from the area who joined the PDP with an aim to serve people of the state. He will contribute immensely for the growth of the party in the area,” reads a handout.

Party President Mehbooba Mufti welcomed Talib Hussain and urged all members of the community to unite as one single unit to prevent further assaults on the rights of the community

Though the winter season is over in Kashmir valley, but there is no change in power schedule from the Power department till now.

Residents from most of the city areas complained of frequent, unscheduled power cuts especially in the evenings. “The Power Development Department (PDD) has failed in timely revision of the curtailment program. Unscheduled and frequent power cuts still persist despite passing of winter months,” said the citizens here.

Local residents of M.I G, colony Bemina told this KNS correspondent that their area is supplied power as per the winter schedule which was announced and implemented in November last year.

The unduly long power cuts are also affecting tourism industry at a time when the government is desperately trying to woo tourists to Kashmir. As of now, there are six-hour power curtailment in metered areas of Srinagar and Budgam districts. The areas were divided into three groups, A1, A2, and A3.

These areas face two-hour power cuts in the morning, then two hours power curtailment in the afternoon, and another two hours in the evening.

However, the non-metered areas face nine-hour power cuts.

Given the persistent curtailment, the people find their lives miserable. “We are even not able to watch news on TV as the power remains off for most part of the day, while our children are unable to concentrate on studies properly in the evening hours,” said Shabir Ahmad of Batmaloo.

The business activities have also been affected due to these power curtailments. “The scene in the metered areas, which mostly include the posh civil lines in the city, and towns elsewhere, is equally messy. Basically there’s no power curtailment schedule, as we witness some three to five hours of power cuts a day,” said Ruksan Aziz a housewife from Qamarwari.

The people here said that it is high time for personal intervention of Governor Satya Paul Malik. “He must personally look into the matter to get rid of the power woes, otherwise it will affect entire business season in the valley,” the local businessmen cautioned here.

Interestingly, the power curtailment awaits revision when the demand for power supply has already gone down. “After the chilly spell of winter when we use more of heating gadgets, the demand for power starts going down from spring itself whereas during summers its minimal,” explained a retired PDD official asking not be named.

When contacted the Chief Engineer, PDD, said the problem was being looked into. “I have convened a meeting to get feedback from transmission people, after which future course of action can be decided,” CE told Kashmir News Service (KNS) over phone.

The CE further said that there would be an improvement in the power supply in coming days. “There is already some reduction we have made in the winter schedule power cuts and we will further reduce power cuts and their duration,” the CE claimed. (KNS)