The betrayal budget by NC govt shattered people’s hopes: Sat Sharma

• Daily wagers, contractual labourers left in lurch

JAMMU: The maiden budget presented by the NC government in Jammu & Kashmir has utterly betrayed the public mandate and shattered the hopes of J&K residents. The budget essentially represents a complete U-turn by the NC government on its Assembly election manifesto, in which it had promised moon to the masses, but now completely failed in living up to its promises.

This was stated by Sat Sharma, President, J&K BJP, while reacting to the Budget presented by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Sharma rued that the CM’s speech signified a distress note, which was bursting with a sense of helplessness, dependency and vulnerability rather than assertiveness to take J&K forward on the path of development that has been ensued by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government.

The manifesto had promised the free 200 units of electricity to every household without mentioning any riders, which is now restricted to only AAY households. This is complete betrayal with the people of Jammu & Kashmir and negation of the manifesto of the National Conference. Along with electricity, the manifesto by NC had also promised for free drinking water to each household.

While J&K continues to suffer from unemployment and a difficult economic situation, the increase in petrol and diesel prices due to reduction in rebate on these fuels will negatively impact the whole economic-ecosystem of population affecting every single resident of Jammu & Kashmir resulting in increased prices of commodities and fares.

Sat Sharma said that the 1 lakh jobs promised to the youth in the manifesto nosedived with no practical vision in the Budget presented, as the NC had promised that within 3 months of forming their government, youth employment generation act will be brought into existence to focus on a sustainable environment for employment.

Sharma also mentioned no guarantee and complete roll back of manifesto promises for daily wagers and contractual employees, which proves the budget has been presented with short-sighted vision.

JKNC’s Drug Menace Eradication Commitment mentioned ‘in toto’ Implementation of WADA (War Against Drug Abuse) Report and setting up of new ‘Addiction treatment facilities’ found no place in the Budget presented by the J&K CM. The tall promises of the social welfare pension have also proved to be hollow in this budget, said Sat Sharma, and added that the budget also fails to mention financial assistance of rupees 5000 per month to female heads falling under EWS. 12 free LPG cylinders found absent in the Budget.

Sharma cherished the appreciation by J&K CM that semblance of normalcy is returning after over three and a half decades of turmoil in Jammu & Kashmir and said that the BJP is making full efforts to progress the region on the path of peace and progress.