Handover NHPC projects to State: Mehbooba

Lambasting ruling National Conference for plunging the State into unprecedented crises due to non availability of ration coupled with total failure of power supply system, president of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti today reiterated her party’s demand to hand over the hydro-electric projects to the State so as to solve the power crises. Addressing an impressive gathering of party workers here today, PDP chief regretted due to the wrong policies of National Conference led coalition regime the State has been facing unprecedented crises where common masses have been confronting with acute shortage of ration and non availability of power in the severe cold has further compounded woes of the people. Ms Mufti asked Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to hand over hydro electric power projects being managed by the NHPC to the State. “Residents of our State have been confronting with acute power crises but the energy generated in the State is supplied to other parts”, she pointed out and stressed on the need of handing over all hydro electric projects to the State to solve this problem once for all. She further demanded renegotiation of agreements with NHPC regarding construction of new power projects in the State. “State has suffered huge loss due to discriminatory agreements signed by the then National Conference regime with the NHPC in the year 2002 against a paltry royality of just 12 percent electricity and it is need of the hour to renegotiate new projects”, she observed and added that job avenues would be created for locals if the projects handed over the State. Terming much publicized one year achievements of National Conference led coalition regime as bundle of lies, PDP chief cautioned the people against gimmicks of the ruling party. “National Conference has once raked up the issue of autonomy to divert peoples’ attention towards its failure”, she observed, adding, “during the last one year government’s pronouncements remained confined only to press statements and photo sessions so the National Conference has played the card of Saghir Committee report to hoodwink the common masses to hide its failure”. She said that Saghir Committee report was incomplete and it was submitted only to befool the people. She further said that National Conference has been using Saghir Committee report to sabotage the “quiet diplomacy” process initiated by the Government of India to involve all shades of people in the dialogue process. “People of Jammu and Kashmir are very much aware of the gimmicks of National Conference”, she said, reminded the people about fate of autonomy report when it was handed over the then NDA regime. “Had National Conference sincere on autonomy the party would come out of the NDA at that time when the report was thrown to the dustbin by then Union Government in which National Conference was also an important constituent”, she reminded, adding, “instead of coming out of the government, NC leaders remained in the NDA just for the lust of power”. PDP chief regretted that ruling National Conference has failed to learn lesson from its previous failure. “The six year term from 1996 to 2002 has been considered as worst ever period in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir”, she said and pointed out that the present dispensation has been repeating the same mistakes which were committed by the party earlier. Ridiculing claims of ruling National Conference to started development projects in the State Ms Mufti pointed out that instead of doing some productive works this regime has been staking claims on those projects which were started during the regime of Mufti Mohammad Sayed. “Be it the opening of routes across the LoC trade, opening of Muzaffarabad road, construction of Mughal road or establishment of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah Univesity National Conference leadership has been brazenly trying to put them in their own account”, she pointed out. Later interacting with media persons, PDP chief said that some vested interests were hell bent to disrupt the on-going peace process. She, however, stressed that peace process pioneered by her party should be taken to logical end. She further said that decision to troop withdrawal was a best compliment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and was an important confidence building measure.