Omar Abdullah, separatists hit out at PDP-BJP govt over NFSA

SRINAGAR: The opposition to implementing National Food Security Act ( NFSA) in Jammu and Kashmir is growing with mainstream and separatists lashing out at PDP-BJP government for the decision alleging that it will deprive a large population of subsidized foodgrains.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah hit out at the PDP-BJP coalition accusing it of robbing people of the right to bare minimum ration requirement.

Hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani said the reservations of the public in this regard cannot be taken as meaningless.

Omar said despite pressure from ally Congress, he had not implemented the Act when he was the Chief Minister.

"The PDP-BJP Government is robbing people of the right to bare minimum ration requirement by irresponsibly implementing the act in the state. I did not allow the implementation of NFSA in the state despite recurring pressure from our then alliance partner, the Congress Party, because I knew the Act was against the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Omar said.

"I said I won't allow the implementation of this Act in J-K until I was convinced it would benefit my people," Omar said addressing a workers convention at Shangus in South Kashmirs Anantnag district on Thursday.

Omar, the National Conference (NC) working president, claimed spontaneous protests have become a regular feature ever since Mufti Mohammad Sayeed took over as the Chief Minister.

"When Mufti Sahab took over as the Chief Minister after his sell-out to the BJP, he patted himself on the back about the implementation of the NFSA and his Ministers even went to the extent of saying that this was the biggest miracle of the PDP-BJP Government.

"Today people are out on the roads in every nook and corner of the state and now Mufti Sahab's Minister says that this was a decision taken by the previous government which is a brazen lie," he said.