Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday accused the National Conference (NC)-Congress government of failing to deliver on its promises despite completing one year in office, claiming that the coalition secured a massive mandate in last year’s Assembly elections but has “nothing to show” in terms of governance and development.
Speaking to reporters here, Mehbooba said people across Jammu and Kashmir had voted in large numbers, including in areas that had earlier witnessed poll boycotts, with the hope of forming a strong and stable government that would address long-pending grievances.
“The National Conference-Congress government got around 50 seats, they got MPs, and have three members in the Rajya Sabha now. But despite such a strong mandate, nothing has been done,” she said.
The PDP chief alleged that despite Budgam voters showing faith in Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the last elections, he remained absent from the constituency after his victory.
“Where was he (Omar Abdullah) for the past year? Promises were made on electricity, ration, gas cylinders, and employment, but none of them were fulfilled,” she said.
Calling the ongoing Budgam bypoll campaign a “misuse of state machinery,” Mehbooba alleged that the entire administration and government machinery were being mobilised for a single seat.
“For just one seat, Omar Abdullah and his entire government are sitting here. Every MLA is going door-to-door, and the entire administration is being used,” she said.
Land Grab Allegations
Referring to recent allegations of land encroachments, Mehbooba hit back at the NC leadership, asking Omar Abdullah to explain the “encroachments in Bathindi.”
“If you want to talk about land grab, tell people whose names were there on the Bathindi forest land list. Poor people make small houses of four or five marlas. If you want to see grand land grabbing, look at Gupkar Road,” she said.
Mehbooba claimed that during her tenure, her government introduced a Bill to provide ownership rights to poor families who had been living on small plots for decades.
“The Bill was meant for poor families living in one or two-room houses for the past 20–30 years. Omar Abdullah opposed it, saying land grabbers would benefit. If you want to see the biggest example of land grabbing, look at Gupkar Road—after the Indira-Sheikh Accord, prime land was leased at Re 1 per kanal to their family. They now have 100 kanals of prime land. So, who is the biggest land grabber?” she asked.
NC’s ‘Failure to Deliver’
Dismissing allegations that the PDP acts in alignment with the BJP, Mehbooba said the NC was trying to deflect attention from its own failures.
“They promised free electricity, 12 free gas cylinders, 10 kg of free ration, one lakh jobs, stopping employee terminations, and releasing political prisoners. Have they fulfilled any of these? Illegal mining and corruption are at their peak today,” she charged.
Refuting NC’s Accusations on 2016 Protests
Reacting to NC’s claim that the “destruction of Kashmir” began during the PDP-BJP rule in 2016, Mehbooba reminded reporters of previous unrests under NC governments.
“In 2010, there were protests after the Machil fake encounter and the Shopian case. Who was in power then? Who was responsible for Afzal Guru’s hanging?” she asked.
Daily Wagers and Socio-Economic Issues
Mehbooba reiterated her party’s commitment to the welfare of daily wagers, saying her government had initiated their registration and introduced an SRO policy for regularisation.
“We registered around one lakh daily wagers and framed an SRO policy. We introduced a Bill for their regularisation, but it was not accepted. I stand with them on humanitarian grounds,” she said.
Restoration of Trade Routes and Dialogue
Renewing her call for the revival of traditional trade and travel routes, the PDP president said that Jammu and Kashmir has been ‘locked in a cage’ since the abrogation of Article 370, and that the issue extends beyond the question of statehood.
“I am not talking about full statehood—I am talking about finding a solution to the problem of Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.
She urged the Centre to reopen historic routes, including the Suchetgarh route in Jammu and the Kargil–Skardu road in Ladakh, to restore cross-border connectivity and promote regional peace.
“You have locked Jammu and Kashmir in a cage. I want it opened from all sides,” Mehbooba said.
