Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 21: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti criticized the Government over the construction of 30 satellite townships along the Srinagar Ring Road and large-scale road and rail infrastructure projects.
Speaking to reporters, she demanded clarity on the purpose of these townships, which require over 1.20 lakh kanals of land.
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Mehbooba warned that development projects on horticultural land and policies targeting the Handicraft Sector “are part of a deliberate strategy to undermine J&K’s self-sufficiency.”
“Omar must clarify who these townships are for. People fear they could be part of a broader plan to change the region’s demographics,” she said, urging Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take a stand.
“If these sectors are destroyed, the people of J&K will be left with nothing. We will be reduced to dependency, with no means to sustain ourselves,” she stated.
She accused the Central Government of “dismantling” Kashmir’s Horticulture and Handicraft Industries, leaving the economy reliant on tourism.
Mehbooba also expressed concern over the proposed 28% GST hike on Kashmiri shawls, describing it as a threat to a craft that symbolizes Kashmir’s identity.
“The Kashmiri shawl is globally renowned. Increasing GST will kill this art form, just as the Shahtoosh ban caused economic losses,” she said.
Mehbooba further criticized large-scale infrastructure projects like railway lines and highways, claiming they devastate orchards that sustain livelihoods.
She also highlighted the cancellation of 1.5 lakh Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards amid severe winter hardships, adding to public suffering.
“The people are facing power woes alongside issues with monthly rations. The government should take note of the suffering,” she said.
The former Chief Minister urged the J&K government to act decisively, warning of long-term damage to the region’s economy and cultural heritage.
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