Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, May 13 

Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday accused the ruling National Conference of weakening the region’s economy by transferring key hydropower projects to the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and then defending liquor sales as a source of government revenue.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Mehbooba rejected allegations by National Conference leaders that the People’s Democratic Party-led government had issued the highest number of liquor licences during its tenure.

“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,” she said.

The PDP leader said the National Conference, which currently enjoys a larger legislative presence, was now justifying continued liquor sales because earlier governments led by the party had ceded major revenue-generating hydropower assets to NHPC.

“Our biggest source of revenue could have been our power projects, but when you were the chief minister in 1996, and Omar Abdullah was a minister in the BJP government, you handed over seven power projects to NHPC,” Mehbooba said, referring to former chief minister Farooq Abdullah and current Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

She alleged that the present government had recently transferred two additional projects to NHPC instead of seeking compensation and greater financial control over the region’s power resources.

“If we had these power projects, there would have been no need to have liquor shops,” she said, adding that additional revenue could also have helped address unemployment and subsidised electricity commitments.

Mehbooba also welcomed recent remarks by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale advocating continued dialogue with Pakistan, saying the comments reflected the PDP’s long-standing position on engagement between the two countries.

 “If peace has to be established in Jammu and Kashmir, the window of dialogue with Pakistan has to remain open always,” she said.

Referring to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, she cited his statement that countries can change friends but not neighbours.

Mehbooba said periods of engagement between India and Pakistan during the tenures of Vajpayee and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had positively impacted security conditions in Kashmir.

“There was a decline in militancy; the arrests of people and the atrocities had decreased,” she said.

She also claimed that unofficial communication channels involving retired military officers and bureaucrats from India and Pakistan had resumed in recent months through meetings in third countries.

“If this is really put into effect, it will have a positive impact on the atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir,” Mehbooba said.