Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) government as it completed one year in office, questioning its performance and comparing it unfavourably to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s governance model.
Mufti lauded Kejriwal’s administration in Delhi, noting that despite being a Union Territory like Jammu and Kashmir, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government “delivered effective governance.” She alleged that even though “Delhi LG had a gun pointed at Arvind Kejriwal’s head,” the former CM managed to provide free electricity, water, quality education, and healthcare, and also regularised illegal colonies.
“Even Arvind Kejriwal governed a UT. He offered free power, free water, improved schools and hospitals, and legalised illegal colonies. Despite pressure from the LG, he performed exceptionally. Why can’t Omar Abdullah do the same? Why isn’t he providing free gas, power, water, increasing widow funds, or creating jobs? Using the lack of statehood as an excuse for inaction is unacceptable,” she said.
Mufti also revealed that former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had personally reached out to her seeking PDP’s support for the government. “Farooq Abdullah called me and said the government needed support. I told him that our backing depends on certain bills being passed in the Assembly,” she added.
Earlier, on Sunday, the PDP chief had accused the BJP government of targeting Muslims in India while simultaneously strengthening ties with the Taliban in Afghanistan. She alleged that the BJP was “promoting divisive slogans” such as ‘Love Jihad’, ‘Land Jihad’, ‘Vote Jihad’, and ‘Cow Jihad’ to vilify Indian Muslims.
Highlighting what she called a “blatant contradiction,” Mufti said that while India was offering scholarships and aid to rebuild Afghanistan, Muslim students at home were being deprived of opportunities.
“India—the mother of democracy—is embracing the Taliban, the father of jihad, under the BJP,” Mufti wrote on X, calling the withdrawal of scholarships for Muslim students while aiding Afghan students a glaring example of double standards.
