The coalition partners Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu & Kashmir have locked themselves in an ugly poster war over the issue of taking credit for implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in the State from February 2016.
The decision to implement the National Food Security Act was earlier taken in the Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeedon December 2.
Now after a long wait of two weeks king-size hoardings of Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed and CAPD Minister from PDP Ch Zulfkar Ali have surfaced here in the winter Capital of the State.
The hoarding with pictures of Chief Minister and CAPD Minister clearly announces in bold letters,” Historic decision of the Mufti Government”.
Pictures of none of the BJP leaders including Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh have been accommodated on the poster apparently okayed by the PDP top brass.
Ironically, there is no mention of any source or State Government agency which has issued the poster.
On the other hand the State Unit of the BJP too has designed similar hoardings announcing implementation of the Food Security Act. The poster designed by State BJP lays stress on the slogan “Food is now our right”.
Interestingly, the poster issued by the State unit of the BJP has not included picture of Chief Minister either.
Images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh are pasted on the poster designed in traditional colours of BJP flag.
As compared to the other poster, the poster okayed by the State unit of the BJP has at least shown some magnanimity as it has given credit to the BJP-PDP alliance for the big achievement.
With implementation of NFSA from February 1, 2016, 74.13 lakh people will get flour at the rate of `2 per kg and rice at `3 per kg while other 45 lakh people will get flour at `8 per kg and rice at `10 per kg. This will cover 95 per cent population of the State.
Ahead of the beginning of the Budget Session of the State legislature from January 18, 2016 the alliance partners have already started pulling their socks to effectively counter the resurgent Opposition led by Omar Abdullah of National Conference and GA Mir of Congress.
The State Government is also under pressure to hold local bodies poll and by rolling the ambitious Food security Act in February 2016 the alliance partners would try and consolidate their grip on the masses.