PDP, NC responsible for ''turmoil'' in J

Jammu, Jul 3 (UNI) Senior Congress leader and Member Parliament from Udhammpur-Doda constituency, Choudhray Lal Singh, today blamed the coalition partners--Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and mainstream party in the opposition National Conference--for ''turmoil'' in the state.

Mr Singh, while addressing a press conference here, said the PDP, during its three-year tenure in the government, had neither raised the issues of self-rule, demilitarisation and Pakistani currency nor nor demanded them.

''Both PDP and NC are envious of developmental agendas of the Congress as Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad took Jammu and Kashmir into a new era with infrastructural progress,'' Mr Singh said.

''PDP is playing the cards of politics and ''burning'' the Amarnath issue to generate vote bank for maximum seats in Kashmir in the name of ''Kashmiriyat'','' the Congress leader said asserting, ''vested interests have joined hands to communalise Amarnath row and PDP only wants to rule Jammu and Kashmir by hook or crook.'' On transfer of land issue to the Shrine Board, the MP said, ''once the order was passed, it should not have been revoked but if they did, it should have been done much earlier.'' Mr Singh said it is an election year in the state and the BJP has got an issue to provoke people of Jammu region in the name of 'Hinduism'.

He added that ''the yatra always boosted the economy of the state, especially in Kashmir but it was not acceptable to the Kashmir-centric leaders, who are accountable in flaring up Amarnath row''.

UNI VBH SR RK2048