Aatif Qayoom
MLA Langate and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) leader Sheikh Khurshid on Thursday criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing him of shirking responsibility regarding the installation of electricity meters in the Kashmir Valley.
Khurshid questioned the Chief Minister’s awareness before the elections about the absence of meters in various parts of the Valley. He slammed the decision to provide free 200 electricity units only to metered areas, calling it a “new drama” and a “deceptive move” by the government.
“Is the Chief Minister unaware of his responsibilities? If he cannot fulfill this promise, he must apologize publicly,” Khurshid stated.
The MLA further sated that he is not against the installation of meters, the process must be completed within a reasonable timeframe. “There should not be a delay of 2-3 years. It is the government’s responsibility to install meters, not the people’s,” he added.
Khurshid also urged the government to provide the monetary value of the 200-unit waiver to non-metered areas until the entire valley is brought under the metering system. “This is not rocket science,” he remarked.
He further said if the state government cannot convince the Union government on the issue, they should seek a public apology and admit their inability to resolve the matter. “Don’t put people in a dilemma,” he warned.
The MLA vowed to raise this issue both inside and outside the assembly. “If the government cannot fulfill its promises, it must come forward and apologize publicly,” Khurshid asserted.
