PDP objects to CM’s remarks on troops cut

Rejecting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s contention that the withdrawal of troops from civilian areas will have to wait till an unspecified date in future, the PDP has described the government stance as being against the interests of normalcy in the state.

Addressing a workers’ convention at Kupwara today, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the situation in the state was now almost normal except for incidents triggered by the government and the security forces.

She added that people having reposed a renewed trust in the democratic system needed to be responded to with a matching trust from the state.

“The men in uniform after having completed their duty in civilian areas will have to go back to barracks like any disciplined force and the time for that is now,” she said.

The PDP president alleged that the government was now using political dissent as an alibi for continuing with overwhelming militarisation of the state. This coupled with indiscriminate invocation of laws like the AFPSA and the PSA could only breed cynicism once again that was primarily responsible for the trouble in Kashmir, she said.

Mehbooba said the state government was indulging in double speak on all matters of concern for the common man.

It had been unable to push forward the legislation on the inter district recruitment even though it had promised so and a majority of members would have supported it. Instead of protecting the interests of people, the government opted to protect itself as had always been the preference of the NC, she added.

She said the government turned a blind eye to protests, particularly from Kupwara, and shelved the legislation even after it had been approved by the joint select committee.

Referring to the mounting problems faced by the people, Mehbooba said food crisis had hit everybody hard and the poor were the worst hit. The government had mismanaged the public distribution system to the extent that the department concerned was now identified with scandal, scarcity and crisis more than being a utility service, which is in sharp contrast to its traditional and assigned role, she added.