JKNPP hits out at Mufti Govt over shelving lake project, AIIMS to Kashmir

Jammu, May 16: Shelving of artificial lake project here and reported shifting of AIIMS to Kashmir will take a toll on Jammu's "pride and honour", Jammu and Kashmir National Panther's Party today said while hitting out at the BJP-PDP government over the two issues.

"We strongly criticise the BJP leadership for their criminal acquiescence and meek submission in the press conference held yesterday in which the chief minister gave clear indications of shelving of artificial lake project in Jammu and shifting AIIMS to Kashmir," JKNPP Chairman Harsh Dev Singh told reporters here today.

He was referring to Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's statement yesterday that the lake project is "not feasible".

Maintaining that both the issues have an emotional value for the people of Jammu, Singh said, it was "highly intriguing" to note that Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, who was sitting adjacent to Sayeed, could not counter or react.

He alleged that Nirmal Singh did not "take a stand" in the press conference that 85 per cent of the work on 'Artificial Lake' project is completed at a cost of Rs 58 crore and that it would be a tourist destination for millions of people visiting Jammu.

"Nirmal Singh chose to rush to Delhi to reportedly meet Union Minister Uma Bharti to seek help but did not utter a word when chief minister announced that Jammu's dream project would be shelved," he said.

"Jammu's deprivation and neglect is a common cause," he said while appealing to all social, political, intellectual and others organisations of the region to come on a common platform to join hands to give a united fight for the cause of the region.

PTI