JAMMU: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Monday hit out at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for what he termed as “misleading statements” on the Special Assistance Scheme for Capital Investment (SASCI), saying that people today are well-informed and cannot be fooled by lies.
Speaking to reporters, Choudhary said, “This is not like the old days when people could say anything. If you just Google a bit, you will understand what SASCI actually is and who lied about it.”
Referring to PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para’s remarks in the Assembly, the Deputy Chief Minister said Para himself had questioned deeds instead of words. “He quoted a couplet and said—don’t talk here and there, tell me what your deed was. Our deed is clear. Last time we were sitting in the opposition, this time we are on the treasury benches. Their deed is that they came down from 28 seats to just 4,” Choudhary said.
He further warned that continuing with false narratives would only push the party further into political irrelevance. “If they keep lying, the time is not far when they will go from 4 to 0. You cannot run a House or mislead people with lies. People know everything today,” he added.
Clarifying the SASCI scheme, the Deputy Chief Minister said it is a 50-year interest-free loan and a unique initiative. “No other Union Territory in the country got this scheme. Jammu and Kashmir benefited from SASCI due to the personal efforts of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah,” he said.
Choudhary said the scheme is not new and has been in place since 2020 for states. “It was not earlier applicable to Union Territories. But because of Mr Omar’s efforts, it was extended to J&K. Had it been implemented earlier, even during COVID, the benefits would have been much larger,” he added.
Taking a swipe at PDP, the Deputy Chief Minister said the party which failed to run on its own agenda cannot teach lessons to others. “We don’t take PDP very seriously. You yourself saw that an MLA took the microphone and sat inside the House, and later claimed there was no mic. We have clippings of the House proceedings. The Hon’ble Speaker has already given a ruling on that issue, so things will become crystal clear,” he said.
Choudhary also targeted the BJP over the proposed gondola project in Katra, alleging that the sentiments and livelihoods of local people were being ignored. “Ask the BJP about the gondola project in Mata Vaishno Devi. Earlier, the entire city of Katra was shut down over this issue. Around 20,000 to 25,000 people—traders, pithu workers and small shopkeepers—are affected,” he said.
He said agitation has resumed in Katra and accused the BJP of crushing the livelihood rights of common people. “This is not a dictatorship. This is an elected government which bows before the Constitution. But in Katra, fundamental rights related to livelihood are being crushed,” Choudhary alleged.
Questioning the claim that the gondola project was a cabinet decision, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “Which cabinet decision is this? It has never been discussed in the Council of Ministers. Maybe it was discussed in the advisory or administrative council before the formation of this government, but not in our cabinet. Even discussion has not taken place, forget about a decision.”
He said the BJP must first answer whose side it is on. “Are your sympathies with big interests or with the people of Katra? Is there no concern for the common man whose daily livelihood may end because of this gondola?” Choudhary asked, adding that a party ignoring people’s sentiments has no moral authority to talk about justice elsewhere. (KNC)
