“Govt Promised Jobs, Delivered Betrayal”: Mehbooba Mufti Slams NC Over Unemployment, Neglect of Pir Panjal | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday accused the National Conference-led government of failing to fulfil key promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, alleging rising unemployment, neglect of the Pir Panjal region and lack of transparency in government recruitment.

Addressing party workers during a one-day convention in Poonch, Mehbooba said the PDP had acted as a responsible opposition for nearly two years after the National Conference received a “massive mandate”, but claimed that several commitments made to the public remained unfulfilled.

She said the party was now visiting districts across Jammu and Kashmir to assess the ground situation, review pending promises and understand the problems faced by ordinary people.

Mehbooba alleged that promises relating to free electricity, free gas cylinders, unemployment relief and broader public welfare had not materialised, describing it as a betrayal of the public mandate.

Targeting the government over unemployment, she said one lakh jobs had been promised to the youth, but allegations were now surfacing that appointments were being secured through money and political influence. She questioned how recruitments were taking place without transparent examinations or interviews and warned that the youth were being pushed towards despair.

She said it was contradictory for the government to speak about combating drug abuse while failing to provide employment opportunities to young people. According to her, lack of opportunities was deepening frustration among the youth.

Referring to the legacy of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Mehbooba said several institutions, including Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, degree colleges and higher secondary schools, were established to uplift the Pir Panjal region and bring it on par with other areas of Jammu and Kashmir. She, however, alleged that the region’s infrastructure and institutions were now facing neglect.

She reiterated the PDP’s demand for divisional status for the Pir Panjal region, saying party legislators had earlier introduced bills in the Assembly seeking the move to ease administrative difficulties faced by people living in remote areas.

Mehbooba said residents of far-flung areas were often forced to travel long distances to Jammu or Srinagar for routine official work and basic services. She maintained that divisional status was a public necessity linked to governance, accessibility and balanced development rather than a political demand.

The PDP chief also renewed the demand for Hill District status for remote areas such as Mendhar, saying it would help bring governance and development closer to the people. She criticised what she described as the silence of the National Conference on these demands and questioned attempts to oppose such proposals.

She further called for urgent strengthening of healthcare infrastructure across the Pir Panjal region, saying residents continued to suffer because of inadequate medical facilities.