Srinagar, Nov 29 : The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing him of “hiding behind the Lieutenant Governor” and failing to take responsibility amid growing public concerns over demolition drives across the Union Territory.
Speaking to reporters after a party meeting in Srinagar, PDP spokesperson Mehboob Beg said the Chief Minister must “stop behaving like an opposition leader” and start delivering on the mandate given to him by the people.
“The elected government cannot hide behind the Lieutenant Governor. An elected government is answerable and it must act, not raise questions,” Beg said, reacting to Omar Abdullah’s recent remarks questioning demolition actions in various districts.
Beg criticised the Chief Minister for “expressing helplessness,” saying such statements were unbecoming of someone in power.
“Our elected Chief Minister is speaking like an opposition leader, like Mehbooba Mufti. He has the mandate; he needs to act. He cannot make Kashmiris homeless and then pretend he has no authority,” he said.
The PDP leader said the people of Jammu and Kashmir did not vote for the National Conference (NC) to “act weak or powerless”.
“Did lakhs of people vote for them so they could say they lack authority? If they don’t have authority, the Chief Minister should explain why he is in office,” he remarked.
Taking a dig at the NC-led government, Beg asked why it had failed to protect people facing demolitions amid sub-zero temperatures.
“If they can’t save families being rendered homeless in freezing cold, what exactly are they doing in power?” he questioned.
Beg further said that PDP MLAs had introduced a bill in the recent Assembly session seeking land rights for the poor, but the Chief Minister dismissed it as an attempt to help “land grabbers”.(KINS)
