Who let Srinagar down?

As local bodies’ polls nears in the state, ruling National Conference (NC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday locked horns over who let Srinagar down by failing to keep promises made to its residents.

PDP legislator Abdul Rehman Veeri sparked a heated debate in the assembly when he asked about status on construction of seven flyovers, including Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh, development of Idgah and beautification of river Jhelum in Srinagar city.

“What has been done to projects initiated by the previous government? What about Rs 12,000 crore of Prime Minister Reconstruction Plan? Where is project of drainage? What is the status of the thirteen and a half km long Syed Mirakh Shah road? What about Dal lake restoration” asked Veeri.

Senior NC leader and rural minister Ali Muhammad Sagar retorted: "Beautification of Jhelum river banks has been expanded in fact”.

Claiming work on all projects is going on, Sagar accused the PDP of stalling projects in their rule. “The PDP government during its rule stopped projects initiated by the previous government run by Farooq Abdullah. It’s just 25 feet flyover that was constructed by the PDP government. The PDP should apologise to people,” alleged Sagar.

These words of Sagar sparked a walk out from the opposition PDP. "These are black lies," said PDP MLA creating a din in the assembly.

The claims and counter claims have come at a time when the state government is preparing for local bodies polls in the next two months.