Srinagar: Omar Abdullah, Vice President of the National Conference, has vocally criticized the BJP’s recent budget proposal, labeling it as neglectful towards the critical needs of Jammu and Kashmir, which he referred to as Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
According to Kashmir Media Service, during a media interview, Abdullah highlighted that the budget, influenced by “coalition compulsions,” fails to address the significant issues faced by the residents of IIOJK. He pointed out that despite promises, there has been no visible investment in the region, which is grappling with high unemployment and developmental regressions.
The NC leader emphasized the acute shortages of essential services, such as water and electricity, that are affecting the daily lives of the people. “Investment was promised, but we don’t see it on the ground anywhere. Today, people are screaming for water and electricity, so the sum total of our problems in Jammu and Kashmir has increased,” Abdullah remarked.
He also critiqued the Indian government’s overall commitment to the region by referencing an incident where an Indian minister struggled to detail his ministry’s budget allocations, suggesting that this lack of clarity mirrored the neglect and mismanagement facing Jammu and Kashmir under its current Lieutenant Governor.