NC handed over power projects to NHPC, now cries over liquor revenue: Mehbooba

Srinagar, May 13: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the ruling National Conference (NC), accusing its leadership of surrendering Jammu and Kashmir’s key power projects to the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and then justifying the continuation of liquor sales on the grounds of revenue generation.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Mehbooba was responding to the NC’s allegation that the PDP-led government had issued the highest number of liquor licences during its tenure.

Defending her party’s position, the former chief minister said the PDP never enjoyed an absolute majority in the Assembly that would have enabled it to take decisive steps like as banning liquor.

Addressing the mediamen at party headquarters, the PDP chief said, “The PDP formed the government twice, but both times it was in alliance. We never had such a huge majority that we could ban alcohol if we wanted to. Today, the National Conference has around 50 MLAs. Had we enjoyed such a majority, perhaps we could have taken some step.”

Mehbooba said the NC leadership was now citing dependence on liquor revenue because successive governments led by the party had weakened Jammu and Kashmir economically by transferring major hydropower assets to NHPC.

“I want to tell Farooq (Abdullah) Sahab that our biggest source of revenue could have been our power projects, but when you were the chief minister in 1996, and Omar (Abdullah) Sahab was a minister in the BJP government, you handed over seven power projects to the NHPC. If we had such resources, there would have been no need for liquor shops,” she said.

The PDP chief alleged that CM Omar had recently transferred two more power projects to NHPC instead of pressing for financial compensation and greater control over the J&K’s energy resources.

“Rather than asking NHPC to compensate for the revenue, they handed over more projects. If we had these power projects, there would have been no need to have liquor shops. It would also have resolved the issues of unemployment and the provision for 200 units of free electricity,” she said.

Mehbooba also welcomed remarks made by RSS General Secretary DattatreyaHosabale advocating continued dialogue with Pakistan, saying the statement vindicated the PDP’s long-held political position.

“We welcome it. It vindicates the stand of PDP, especially that of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, that if peace has to be established in Jammu and Kashmir, the window of dialogue with Pakistan has to remain open always. The negotiations should continue, as there is no other way out,” she said.

Invoking former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s famous statement, “You can change friends, but not neighbours”, Mehbooba said it was encouraging that the RSS leadership was now speaking in favour of engagement with Pakistan.

She also referred to ongoing global conflicts, saying even powerful nations eventually turn towards diplomacy.

“There is a small country like Iran on one side and superpowers like the US and Israel on the other. They launched so many attacks on Iran, but after all that, even they want some resolution of the issue through talks,” she said.

Referring to the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, under which India carried out strikes on terror camps in Pakistan, Mehbooba said there now appeared to be a growing realisation on both sides that dialogue remained essential.

“When the dialogue process was going on during the tenures of Manmohan Singh and Vajpayee, it had a positive impact on Jammu and Kashmir. We experienced it. There was a decline in militancy; the arrests of people and the atrocities had decreased,” she said.

The PDP president said that unofficial channels of communication between India and Pakistan had resumed in recent months.

“I am aware of reports that, since the last two to three months, the process of dialogue has started between retired generals and bureaucrats of India and Pakistan in some third country,” she said, expressing hope that such efforts would eventually translate into formal engagement.

“If this is really put into effect, it will have a positive impact on the atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir. People will get some relief from being suspected and harassed, and called anti-national,” Mehbooba said.