India
The National Conference (NC) has strongly refuted allegations made by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, who claimed that over 1.5 lakh ration cards belonging to people below the poverty line in Jammu and Kashmir were cancelled. NC’s chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq labeled the accusations as “unfounded” and dismissed them as a calculated attempt by the former Chief Minister to remain politically relevant.
In a statement, Sadiq emphasized that such “baseless accusations” have no place in responsible political discourse. He accused Mehbooba Mufti of hypocrisy, pointing out her role in implementing the Food Security Act during her tenure, which he said led to a drastic reduction in ration quotas from 35 kilograms under the NC-led government to just 5 kilograms. Sadiq questioned the PDP leader’s selective criticism, remarking, “Why did she stay silent when similar decisions were made nationwide? This is not a J&K-specific issue but part of a countrywide initiative to weed out fake and duplicate ration cards.”
The PDP’s accusations come in the wake of Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya’s revelation in the Rajya Sabha earlier this week. The minister stated that over 1.27 lakh fake and duplicate ration cards had been cancelled in Jammu and Kashmir since 2013, alongside 702 cards in Ladakh. Across India, 5.87 crore ration cards have been annulled during the same period to ensure accurate targeting of food subsidies.
Sadiq also revisited Mehbooba Mufti’s controversial tenure as Chief Minister, accusing her of policies that alienated the people of Kashmir. Referring to her infamous “milk and toffee” remark, he said, “Her dictatorial and arrogant behavior has not been forgotten. The people of J&K remember how her government’s policies symbolized oppression.”
Assuring the public of the NC-led government’s commitment to delivering justice and restoring lost trust, Sadiq reaffirmed the party’s promises. “The Omar Abdullah government is determined to fulfill its manifesto, which includes providing 200 free units of electricity and enhancing ration quotas. Years of administrative and developmental setbacks cannot be reversed overnight, but progress is being made,” he said.
This political row underscores the ongoing tension between the region’s key parties as they battle for public support amidst significant socio-economic challenges. While Mehbooba Mufti’s allegations have sparked a heated debate, the NC remains firm in its defense, accusing the PDP of political opportunism.
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