Even though the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led alliance Government is less than one-month-old in office, the principal Opposition party-National Conference- has started growing nervous and losing patience. The first signs of impatience came to the fore on Friday when leader of Opposition Omar Abdullah quoted media reports published in local newspapers before pointing a finger at the alliance Government and accusing it of telling lies in the State Assembly and misleading people of the State over the issue of transfer of NHPC-run power projects.
The media reports, which Omar quoted, dated back to March 5, 2015 and pertained to proceedings of the Question Hour of the lok Sabha. Desperately searching for issues to corner the alliance Government on the floor, Omar desperately tried to widen the gap between the alliance partners but failed. Training his guns at the Treasury Benches, Omar said on one hand, the alliance partners in their Common Minimum Programme (CMP) have announced that they would bring back the NHPC-run power projects to the State and on the other, the Central Government has made it clear that it is not possible to transfer the power projects.
Omar said that the Centre has cited legal and financial problems ahead of taking the step. Omar was joined by legislators from the Opposition benches, who raised slogans, pressuring the State Government to clarify its position and the status of return of power projects. During ruckus in the House, one NC legislator and a Marshal received minor injuries. Omar also alleged that the people in the State are losing their faith in the alliance Government as the agenda items of the Common Minimum Programme are getting diluted one after the other. Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh tried to persuade the Opposition benches no one paid heed to his clarification.
law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Basharat Ahmed Bukhari, also made efforts to pacify the agitating members but he too failed. Bukhari said there was no confusion on the return of power projects from the Centre to State. “We have only just started governing the State. We have not officially started the process in this regard, but we assure you that we will bring power projects back and process will start soon,” he said.
Omar Abdullah responded by saying, “We are not satisfied with the reply and if the Centre would have said in its reply that it is under consideration I would have still not raised questions on it. But the Centre has said that there are financial and legal problems involved in it so it is a clear cut answer on it.” Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh then stood up and lashed out at the Opposition saying, “You have failed to bring back power projects to the State during your rule. Your Government was in the State and at the Centre and there were recommendations by the C Ranga Rajan Commission on the transfer of power projects but you failed.”
“I promise you that we will bring back the power projects. What has not happened during your period will be a reality under our Government,” he said. Referring to the reply in Parliament on the issue, he said that process of submitting questions was done a month ago when our Government was not formed.
In a separate written reply to a similar question from NC legislator Mohammad Akbar lone, Minister in-charge Power Department, also informed the Assembly that the State Government will work with the Union Government to explore the modalities for transfer of Dulhasti and Uri Hydro Power projects. The Government will also seek a share in the profits of NHPC which emanate from J&K waters and besides revision of all royalty agreements.