Ruling parties in JK misusing funds for luxuries: NC

Srinagar, Jun 22: The National Conference (NC) has taken serious note of reports suggesting that the Jammu and Kashmir government was spending huge money on renovation of the residential houses of ministers and bureaucrats during the past one year.

In a statement here, a party spokesman said the coalition, by spending about Rs 20 crore on beautification of residential houses of ministers and bureaucrats, had breached the trust of the people.

''It is very unfortunate that the ruling parties are plundering the state exchequer for luxuries at a time when the state is faced with problems of unemployment and poor economic growth,'' he added.

The spokesman said the politicians for increasing their own comfort level were using the money received from the Centre for developing social infrastructure.

''While thousands of professional graduates have already taken to streets for being denied jobs, the ministers and bureaucrats are eating the very vitals of the state resources to be used for raising the socio-economic condition of the people,'' he added.

The spokesman cautioned that the day was not far away when these politicians would have to face the wrath of the people of the state.

''The people are suffering even for bare minimum needs of two meals a day and safe drinking water and the politicians in power spend crores of rupees on their luxuries,'' he added.

Taking a dig at Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the spokesman said his words do not match his action.

''Mr Azad is repeatedly claiming of maintaining austerity in public spending while more than Rs one crore have so far been spent on his official residence. The spending will go further up by several crores,'' he added.

Regretting the hollow claims of transparency and accountability in public affairs, the spokesman said no matter if the work on ambitious projects was abandoned for want of funds, the ministers should not feel any discomfort in their palattal houses.

UNI