The Hindu : NC flays PDP-led Government

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 01, 2004

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NC flays PDP-led Government

SRINAGAR, MARCH 31. The opposition National Conference kicked off its election campaign in the state by launching a scathing attack on the PDP-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Claiming that the ruling coalition was practising ``divide-and-rule'' policy to remain in power, former Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, said, ``the state government divided the Bakerwal and Phari communities by raking up the issue of language and caste in Poonch and Rajouri districts.

``They are misleading the people by making false and untrue allegations against NC.''

Flaying the coalition government, he told a huge election rally here that its promises have proved ``hollow as none of them has been fulfilled in the last 18 months of its rule".

``The financial position of the state is such that it owed Rs.1400 crores to the banks. Electricity dues amounting to Rs.2000 crores are outstanding but the state government has claimed a zero-deficit budget in the Assembly to mislead the people,'' Abdullah said.

He claimed the state was seeking services of financial experts from outside to steady its ``dwindling'' financial position.

Asking the people to show maturity while exercising their franchise, Abdullah said only the NC which was nearly century-old could defend and protect the separate identity of the state.

The election meeting was also addressed by NC chief Omar Abdullah and party's nominee for Anantnag parliamentary constituency, Mehboob Beg. -- PTI

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