Mufti govt misled House over power projects: Cong

Asserting that the Centre has "categorically refused" the return of NHPC power projects to Jammu and Kashmir, Congress today accused the Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed-led government of "misleading" the state Assembly and the people over the matter.
"In reply to a question in Parliament, the Union Power Minister has told that it would be neither feasible nor possible legally and financially to return the projects. Therefore, the sate government has mislead the House and the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Congress Legislature Party Leader, Nawang Rigzin Jora today told reporters here.
"It is the first major jolt to the PDP-BJP government that the Power Minister has categorically refused return of NHPC projects to the state," he said.

He reminded the PDP-BJP alliance that in the Governor's address, the government had spoken about the modalities to be worked out for transfer of Dulhasti and URI-2 to the state.
"This meant that the in-principle decision had already been taken. Now with Power Minister Piyush Goyal's statement in the Parliament categorically ruling out transfer of these projects, the coalition government's lies have been exposed before the people," Jora said.
Terming the 'Common Minimum Programme' of the coalition government "a bundle of lies", he said the Congress party will expose those lies both within and outside the House.

"The only Common Minimum Programme of this Government is to stay in power by hook or by crook," Jora said.

He accused the BJP of giving up on core agenda of abrogation of Article 370, citizenship rights to the West Pakistan Refugees, Delimitation Commission or the rights of 1947, 1965, 1971 PoK refugees as well as promise of three seats for Kashmiri Pandits and five for PoK refugees.
He alleged that despite having 28 seats (BJP 25 plus three allies), BJP insisted neither on rotational chief ministership nor equal Cabinet berths.
"They have decided to play second fiddle to PDP after having fooled the people of Jammu and garnering their votes in the name of Jammu empowerment," Jora said.
"PDP is much worse. After exploiting the fear factor of Modi among the Kashmiri masses, Mufti Sayeed ended up piggybacking the BJP into the government and seat of power," he added.

Jora alleged that Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed cannot "escape the blame of giving entry to Hindutva forces" into Kashmir valley.