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| PDP lawmakers unwilling to celebrate Eid in their constituencies | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Sept 11: Even as Chief Minister, Mehboba Mufti struggles to restore law and order in restive Kashmir, lawmakers from her Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seem to be creating more trouble by being reluctant to celebrate Eid-Ul-Azha in their respective constituencies, where they could improve ties with the people.
Since the day Kashmir erupted in the wake of killing of militant commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani and his two associates on July 8, Mehbooba has been asking lawmakers from her party to spend more time in their respective constituencies or native areas "so that their physical presence helps the government overcome crises."
But even as festivals have been a traditional time for the lawmakers to remain camped in their respective areas, mainly for image building, this time no minister or other legislators from PDP or the party's senior leadership is willing to spend Eid away from their fortified accommodation in the summer capital.
Sources said the PDP top brass was hopeful that at least ten of its main lawmakers would offer Eid prayers in their respective areas and try to improve contact with the local populace.
"But this time none of the lawmakers is willing to spend Eid away from Srinagar, where they find themselves much-safer," said a PDP insider asking not to be named.
He said Chief Minister, who is also the PDP president, had pinned hopes that her party leaders would cash the upcoming festival to overcome the fallouts of their previous attempts to improve rapport with the people. "But all seems to be going in vain as the leadership is simply reluctant to leave summer capital," the insiders said.
Earlier, in July soon after protests erupted in Kashmir, Mehbooba had tasked her ministers to be camped at their respective constituencies or other restive areas, as assigned to them away from Srinagar.
Though a few of the ministers visited the areas assigned to them for meeting the locals, they returned within hours.
Sources said immediately after chairing a few meetings at district headquarters with the civil society people and government officials, the legislators rushed back to the City pleading that they were feeling unsafe elsewhere.
In some of the cases, the ministers rushed back in the dead of the dark, whereas in one such attempt PDP MLA Khalil Bandh was wounded as mobs attacked his cavalcade. He was rushed to Army hospital for treatment.
The PDP ministers have been so "scared" that in brazen violation of official protocol they avoided chairing Independence Day celebrations at district headquarters.
Officials said it was for the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir that three senior ministers from PDP, apart from separatist-turned-minister Sajad Lone, were seen sitting among audience at the main function held at Bakshi Stadium though they were expected to be taking guard of honor at other districts.
When contacted a senior PDP leader admitted that lawmakers from the party were reluctant to leave Srinagar on Eid. |
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