NC resorting to wicked propaganda for survival: PDP

Srinagar, Nov 27 (UNI) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a ruling coalition partner in Jammu and Kashmir, today accused the main opposition National Conference (NC) of obliterating the space for dialogue on important political and development matters by resorting to ''wicked propaganda through absolute lies'' for its survival.

In a statement here, a PDP spokesman said a meeting of senior party functionaries was held here to review the present political scenario in the state.

The meeting, chaired by PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, took serious note of the high-pitch noises made by the NC on the recent government decision to lease out land for development of infrastructure to the state-subjects.

The meeting observed that the NC was stung by the reversal of its long-standing policy of allotting government land either to its leadership or to outside businessmen through under-hand means against various considerations.

''It is surprising that the NC which has historically sold out Kashmir both politically and economically on retail and wholesale counters should now find fault with a bonafide decision of leasing out land to state subjects-through an open and transparent process of public bidding,'' the spokesman said.

In fact, he said the NC, the author of the Land Grants Act 1977-78, would not want even to scrap the measure that had been enacted by Late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in a vain bid to expand the family empire by usurping the state land at prime locations besides gifting the same to the family friends from outside the state as well.

The spokesman referred to underhand leases of prime land, including the auqaf land in the heart of Srinagar, the Nedou's Hotel, on the Maulana Azad Road, a major private hotel and the personal properties of Abdullahs and their relatives and friends in and around the city, as landmarks of the NC regime.

He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir were aware as to how the NC leadership used power to barter their interests and sell prime lands to their chosen ones on dubious considerations.

''Dr Farooq Abdullah, as Chief Minister, acted like a Tehsildar, personally marking the land and handing over its possession to the people without following any procedure of legal process. Who are they befooling now one wonders,'' the spokesman added.

UNI AG PKS VC1850