PDP party of 'broken promises': Omar

Ahead of bypolls, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and NC leader Omar Abdullah today termed the ruling PDP as a party of "broken promises" and challenged it to spell out even one promise that it has kept.
"It (People's Democratic Party) is used to making hollow rhetorical promises with the least intention of keeping its word. Spell out even one of the promises that has been kept," Omar said addressing a joint National Conference-Congress election rally at Khanabal in Anantnag town, 55 kms from here.
Listing some of the promises made by PDP in the past three years, he said the 2014 flood sufferers stand living testimony of the governmental apathy as they are yet to get any respite or promised compensation.

"PDP generated euphoria over compensation and flood relief but once in power they left the victims to fend for themselves. Instead of enhancing relief, the PDP found it more convenient to increase the number of pellet bullets to target Kashmiris," he said and asked as to what had happened to the much hyped "battle of ideas".
Apparently referring to last year's unrest which claimed several lives and left many injured, Omar accused PDP of launching an "unethical battle" against innocent civilians in pursuit of remaining in the good books of its mentor and alliance partner, the BJP.
"The brazen betrayal of PDP's promise to keep away the BJP from Kashmir was joining them to form the government," NC working president said while referring to PDP's campaign during 2014 assembly and parliamentary elections against the threat of the Sangh Parivar making inroads in the Valley.

"But, once the elections were over, the PDP jumped all its demarcated lines and hugged the same party to be in alliance and in the government," he said.

Omar expressed grave concern over depriving the people from offering Friday prayers in south Kashmir consecutively for months together.
"PDP has been instrumental in adding to the miseries of people. In an atmosphere of uncertainty and political instability, the people of the state in general and Kashmir in particular are passing through most difficult times," he said and appealed to people to vote for the Congress candidate as it will be a vote against the "broken promises" of PDP.

AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni described PDP-BJP government as a "threat" to the unity in the state and appealed to people to strengthen secular forces.
"People need to strengthen the secular forces as the ruling dispensation, which is taking directives from RSS, is supporting and strengthening the communal forces vitiating atmosphere of peace and harmony to serve their vested interests," she said.
Soni also appealed people to get united in their resolve to fight against the menace of "PDP-RSS combination" and asked them to defeat the PDP candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha bypolls.