TANGMARG, AUG 25: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday assured that his government would not increase electricity tariffs any further.
“My complete effort will be that, God willing, during this government, we will not increase electricity rates any more than this. No more than this,” he said.
He also launched counterattack on opposition parties criticising the recent power tariff hike, reminding them that electricity rates had risen by similar — and sometimes higher — margins during their own tenures, and that their “selective outrage” would not wash with the people.
Addressing a public rally in this north Kashmir township, CM Omar as per Kashmir Convener took the fight to both the BJP and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing them of “sins” that his government is now being forced to bear. The Chief Minister’s remarks come at a time when opposition parties have been stepping up pressure on the National Conference-led government over rising inflation and utility bills.
“When these people were in power, they increased electricity rates by 15 per cent four years ago. When the ‘pen and paper people’ were with the BJP, whose sins we are suffering today, they are now making noise,” CM Omar said, in a pointed reference to political allies who had previously supported the BJP.
In direct attack to PDP, which headed a coalition government in the state from 2015 to 2018, the Chief Minister did not mince words. “When Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the Chief Minister, electricity rates were hiked by 13.5 to 14 per cent. Why did you remain silent at that time? Did you not feel that injustice was being done to the people?” he asked, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
The Chief Minister outlined his administration’s key priorities — providing clean drinking water, repairing schools, deploying doctors in hospitals, road maintenance, and setting up a fruit market in the region. “Rest of the work is to develop the body,” he said, signalling a focus on infrastructure and public welfare.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to its electoral promises, CM Omar Abdullah said, “All the promises we have made to people, God willing, in the next three-and-a-half years, we will fulfil all those promises and present ourselves to you. I say with confidence that after three-and-a-half years, you will find that among all 90 constituencies, Gulmarg-Tangmarg will have progressed the most.”
Expressing disappointment over the incomplete work on a mini-secretariat in Tangmarg — a project initiated during his previous tenure — the Chief Minister blamed the opposition for its stalled status. “It is because of those people who are pointing fingers at us today. I ask them, you have not done anything new for Tangmarg. You would have completed the work that we had started,” he said.
CM Omar Abdullah announced that work on the mini-secretariat would resume soon. “InshaAllah, soon this year, we will start working on this mini-secretariat, complete it and hand it over to the people of Tangmarg,” he said, seeking to position himself as a leader who delivers on the ground.
He further added by congratulating the people of Tangmarg on the new fruit and vegetable market and thanked party leaders Javed Dar and Farooq Shah for their efforts.
Notably, Apni Party and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) workers on Monday staged separate protests in Srinagar against the 6.83 per cent hike in electricity tariff, demanding immediate rollback of the decision.
The Apni Party workers held a protest at Press Colony, while PDP workers staged a demonstration at the party headquarters in Srinagar.
The protesters raised slogans against the government and termed the tariff increase an additional burden on ordinary consumers.
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