Massive anti-govt rally in NC stronghold Budgam

* 'Office of DDC Budgam has become NC's den'

SYED ALI SAFVI

BUDGAM, Jan 15: Like in other parts of the valley, a massive protest rally was also held at central Kashmir’s Budgam district today to press the need for a permanent resolution of Kashmir imbroglio and against the “failure” of National Conference led coalition government to provide basic facilities to the denizens of the valley.

The 5000-strong procession, led by senior PDP leaders – Javaid Mustafa Mir, Aga Syed Mehmood, Dr Mohammad Shafi, Saif-ud-Din Bhat, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura – marched from Main Chowk Budgam towards the office of District Development Commissioner (DDC) Budgam at 12:00PM. The processionists, carrying placards and lanterns, raised anti-government slogans as they marched past the residences of Minister for Science and Technology, Aga Syed Ruhullah and senior executive member of Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat Conference, Aga Syed Hassan Al-moosvi.

Large contingent of police personnel had been deployed along the road to prevent any untoward incident.

Pertinently, in May 2009, violent clashes had broken out between NC and PDP activists here after some NC activists had forced a shutdown in the Budgam Chowk to protest the conduct of PDP rally at historic Budgam Chowk, which was scheduled to be addressed by PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, the party president Mehbooba Mufti.

The NC activists had set ablaze the taxi stand at Main Chowk Budgam, and had taken the entire Budgam town hostage with police acting helplessly. The day-long clashes had resulted in injuries to at least 55 persons.

Fearing a repeat of May 2009, SSP Budgam had deployed large contingent of policemen in the area to thwart any untoward incident. However, today’s rally passed off peacefully.

It was for the first time that PDP had managed to gather so much support. The people had mainly come from Beerwah, Budgam and Chadoora assembly segments. Budgam district has always been NC’s fortress, but ever since 2009 Parliamentary elections, there has been a visible shift in the political slant in the district. In 2009 Parliamentary elections, PDP’s vote share in the district was higher than that of NC. Except for Finance Minister’s Charar-e Sharief constituency, PDP candidate polled more votes than his NC counterpart in other four assembly constituencies.

Addressing the gathering today, the PDP leaders urged New Delhi to resume dialogue with Pakistan without any delay. They also demanded release of political detenues and those youth who had been detained under Public Safety Act (PSA) on stone pelting pretext.

“PDP has been a strong advocate of Indo-Pak dialogue to help resolve the Kashmir issue,” they said.

Speaking on the occasion, former minister and senior PDP leader, Aga Syed Mehmood, lashed out at NC-led coalition government, saying that the government had failed to provide even basic facilities to people of the state.

“Government has failed on all fronts,” he said. “The inability of this government to provide uninterrupted electricity, adequate ration to the people speak volumes about its failure.”

He castigated the government for not “failing to implement Centre’s eight-point programme in the state”.

Lashing out at the district administration Budgam, Mehmood said that the DDC’s office had become more of a National Conference (NC) office.

“The senior officials of the district administration are acting as NC leaders,” he said. “It has not been able to shift the Bus stand from the present location to the new stand which was developed by PDP-led coalition government keeping in view the space constraint at present Bus stand.”

He also alleged that the district hospital had become a “hub of corruption”.

“I have reliably learnt that doctors at the hospital demand money from the patients before operating them. Patients who don’t grease doctors’ palms are referred to city hospitals,” he said.

He also condemned recent ‘clandestine’ recruitment in police.

Those who spoke on the occasion included, Javaid Mustafa Mir, Saifullah Bhat, Ghulam Nabi Hanjoora.

Similar protest rallies were also held at Sonawari, Bandipora, Baramullah. According to party spokesperson, an “infamous Ikhwani” at Sonawari was commissioned by the district administration to create trouble before the PDP sponsored rally.

“But the local people frustrated the designs of the administration,” he said.

At Baramulla, the senior party leader, Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, led the large demonstration at district head quarter. Speaking on the occasion, Iftikhar came down heavily upon the government for its failure on political and administrative fronts.

He said if the policies of PDP had been carried forward, Baramulla would have become a commercial hub of the entire region including central Asia.

“National Conference is interested only in its family rule and has sacrificed every thing else to secure it,” he said.

At Sonawari, the demonstration was led by the party leaders - Yasir Reshi, Abdul Majid, Imtiyaz Ahmed. At Bandipora, senior party leader, Nizamuddin Bhat led the demonstration. At Pulwama, the demonstration was led by Mohammad Khalil Band, Syed Bashir Ahmed, Abdul Razaq Zawoora, Zahoor Ahmed Mir.

Reports of similar demonstrations also poured in from Reasi, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Kathua, Ramban.