SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Additional General Secretary and MP Chowdry Muhammad Ramzan Wednesday claimed that PDP continues to survive on the political patronage of the BJP and functions as an instrument to fragment the collective voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a party convention of the Tral Constituency, organised by Dr. Peerzada Mehraj-ud-Din, Chowdry Ramzan said that the PDP was conceived not to empower the people of Jammu and Kashmir but to weaken and dilute the political movement led by the National Conference for the protection of the region’s unique identity, constitutional rights and democratic aspirations.
The convention was also addressed by senior National Conference leader and Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo. Among those present were Provincial President Showkat Ahmad Mir, MLA Hazratbal Salman Ali Sagar, Provincial Secretary Syed Tawqeer, Minority Wing Convenor Sardar J.S. Azad, YNC Provincial President Mir Mushtaq and District President Pulwama Muhammad Khalil Bandh.
Choudhary Ramzan said that Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah had forewarned the people about repeated attempts by vested interests to weaken the National Conference because of its unwavering commitment to safeguarding Jammu and Kashmir’s distinct political identity and special constitutional position.
“The PDP was never an organic political alternative; it was a carefully crafted political project designed to divide and confuse the people whenever the National Conference intensified its struggle for the rights and dignity of Jammu and Kashmir. Every time NC raised its voice for restoration of democratic and constitutional rights, diversionary forces were unleashed to shift public attention towards manufactured narratives and political theatrics,” he said.
He alleged that even today, when the Omar Abdullah-led government is preparing to vigorously pursue the constitutional and democratic struggle for the restoration of statehood and the rights of Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP has become visibly unsettled and is attempting to sabotage these efforts through sensationalism and political distractions.
Launching a blistering attack on the PDP’s past record he said, “If the PDP was genuinely committed to the welfare of South Kashmir, our mothers would not have mourned the loss of their young sons, our daughters would not have been widowed, and our youth would not have suffered the scars of pellets and violence during the dark period of 2016. No region bore the brunt of misgovernance and political recklessness more than South Kashmir, particularly Tral. Every household here carries painful memories of the suffering and instability that unfolded under PDP’s watch.”
He said the people have seen through what he described as the “politics of deception, opportunism and double-speak” practised by the PDP leadership.
Addressing the gathering, senior leader and Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo said the prevailing developmental deficit across many parts of Jammu and Kashmir is a direct consequence of years of administrative neglect, policy paralysis and governance failures under the PDP regime.
“The crumbling infrastructure, inadequate healthcare facilities, deteriorating educational institutions, persistent drinking water shortages, stalled development projects and unresolved public grievances are not accidental; they are the legacy of a government that prioritised political survival over public welfare. The people deserve accountability, answers and meaningful action instead of hollow rhetoric and selective outrage,” she said.
She reiterated that the Omar Abdullah-led government is committed to addressing these challenges through transparent governance, equitable development and people-centric policies aimed at restoring public trust and accelerating progress across Jammu and Kashmir.