Slathia flays PDP-BJP for plunging J&K into political stalemate

Surjit Singh Slathia addressing a public meeting at Bandral village.
Surjit Singh Slathia addressing a public meeting at Bandral village.

Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Mar 6: Senior State Vice President National Conference and former Minister Surjeet Singh Slathia lambasted PDP-BJP combination for plunging Jammu and Kashmir into an unprecedented political stalemate, saying the duo stands exposed for deception and lust for power.
“How can the two parties, which continue to remain undecided whether to go together or break up despite hectic secret meetings, reach consensus over governing the sensitive State that has suffered immensely during the during ten months misrule”, Slathia asked while addressing a public meeting at village Bandral of Ramgarh Tehsil in Vijaypur Assembly Constituency.
Slathia said the PDP and BJP owe an explanation for dithering in continuing the coalition, stitched by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, as people would like to know what were the constraints and contentious issues that kept them undecided in forming the Government. “This is an open secret that expectations of the PDP stand belied by indifference of the Centre and desperation within the BJP to get placed in the Government by hook or crook”, he said and regretted that the public interest has become the biggest causality in the process. He said one can only take pity on the PDP for creating hype over the so-called Confidence Building Measures and then climbing down awkwardly just to remain glued to the power.
He said the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh have undergone a nightmarish experience during the PDP-BJP rule as development came to grinding halt and problems of the people kept accumulating.
Slathia also referred to the massive outcry over the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and described it as detrimental to the interests of people of Jammu and Kashmir. He called for its immediate rollback, saying the measure has put the rationees in a piquant situation, thus forcing them to come on streets.
He said scarcity of rations at CAPD stores and the meager quantity being provided under the new scheme has created chaotic situation, which if not addressed early can have serious ramifications. He said the insensitive dispensation adopted the Act without any thought, which has now started boomeranging.