The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) on Sunday held a meeting of its Working Committee. While addressing the members, AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi urged the cadre to ensure strong participation in AIP’s upcoming Jantar Mantar programme demanding restoration of statehood and resolution of other key issues.
The meeting also demanded the immediate release of Party Supremo and MP Baramulla Engineer Rashid, along with all political prisoners and expressed concern over the lack of any provision for regularisation of daily wagers.
Addressing the media, AIP State Secretary Sheikh Ashiq said the Jammu and Kashmir Budget 2026–27, presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is disconnected from ground realities and fails to address unemployment, economic slowdown and business distress.
Sheikh Ashiq termed the effective withdrawal of the ₹2 per litre diesel rebate a regressive step that will burden farmers, transporters, traders and daily wage earners, leading to higher transport costs and inflation. He said the move is unjustified when the government is simultaneously seeking funds for official vehicles and Darbar Move allowances, exposing hollow claims of austerity.
On employment, Sheikh Ashiq said the budget offers no credible job-creation plan and pointed out that nearly 23,000 jobs have been outsourced in the past two years, converting secure public employment into insecure contractual work. He said daily-rated and casual workers have again been pushed into uncertainty, with the budget talking of committees instead of regularisation.
Sheikh Ashiq said the budget ignores the ongoing economic slowdown, offering no stimulus, working-capital support, interest subvention, or tax relief for traders, transporters, hoteliers, artisans and small manufacturers, despite losses caused by security disruptions and natural calamities.
Criticising the neglect of handicrafts, industry, and MSMEs, he said allocations are merely token and lack concrete measures such as export promotion, credit support, incentives or interest relief. He also flagged worrying fiscal indicators, including a rising fiscal deficit and weakening revenue base.
While acknowledging infrastructure spending, Sheikh Ashiq said the budget focuses on long-term projects while ignoring immediate demand-side measures needed to protect livelihoods.
The meeting was presided over by AIP Vice Chairman Adv G N Shaheen and was attended by General Secretary Prince Parveez, senior leaders Firdouse Baba, Parveez Jamaal, Adv Dawood, Adv Shahnawaz, Parveez Ahmad Bhat, Khursheed Ahmad Dar, Dr Suhail, Auqib Mushtaq, Tauseef Ahmad, Zameer Dakroo, Showkat Ahmad Pandit, Riyaz Majid, Ajaz Thakur, Muzaffar Dar, Inayat Bhat, Shabir Ahmad, and Farooq Ahmad Shah.
