Opposition Slams Omar Abdullah’s Budget for ‘Deception’ and ‘Broken Promises’
Tariq Bhat
Srinagar— The budget presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday has sparked outrage across the political spectrum, with opposition parties accusing the National Conference-led government of making hollow promises and delivering little in return. The announcement of 200 free electricity units for Antyodaya Awas Yojana (AAY) families has become the centerpiece of criticism, with detractors labeling it a “cruel joke” on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) described the budget as a glaring example of the gap between the National Conference’s election promises and the reality of their governance. In a scathing statement, the PDP said, “The NC promised 200 free electricity units for every household, raising expectations among the people of Jammu and Kashmir. However, by limiting the benefit only to AAY ration card holders, the government has deceived the vast majority of the population.”
The PDP highlighted that out of 16 lakh ration card holders in the region, only 95,000—roughly 5-7% of the population—stand to benefit from this scheme. “This selective approach is nothing but an anti-people policy,” the PDP alleged, adding that 1,27,000 AAY ration card holders were conveniently removed from the list prior to the announcement.
The party further questioned why the promise was not extended to all households as initially pledged and accused the government of shrinking the pool of beneficiaries for political gain. “The budget announcement proves that the promise of free electricity was nothing more than an election gimmick,” the PDP concluded.
Peoples’ Conference chairman Sajad Lone also criticized the budget, calling it a “disappointment.” He stated, “The budget speech was nothing but a repetition of Centrally Sponsored Schemes dressed up in Hindi names. It reflected a massive gap between the government’s rhetoric and the actual economic figures.”
Lone further pointed out that the 200 free electricity units were tied to the Centrally Sponsored Rooftop Scheme, which has a 65% Central government share. “Too many strings are attached to this promise, making it unviable for most people,” Lone remarked. He also lamented that the budget lacked any substantial measures for employment, daily wage earners, or minimum wages.
He accused the government of neglecting the state’s “key employment sectors” and failing to address the growing frustration among unemployed youth and contractual workers. “The soul of statehood, stolen from us, has been relegated to yet another statistic,” Lone added.
The BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir spokesperson, Altaf Thakur, called the budget “jumla bazi” and slammed the National Conference for “betraying the people.” Thakur said, “Where are the 12 free gas cylinders that Omar Abdullah promised? Where is the one lakh job guarantee? Where is the free ration? This budget is a cruel joke on the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
He also criticized the 200 units of free electricity for AAY families, pointing out that it benefits only a small fraction of the population. “This government has deceived the people of J&K with empty promises and half-hearted measures,” Thakur added.
The budget announcement has left many questioning the intentions of the National Conference. Critics argue that the promise of free electricity for every household, prominently featured in the party’s election manifesto, has been watered down into a selective scheme benefiting only AAY families—most of whom do not even have electricity meters in rural areas.
“This announcement is nothing but a mockery,” said a local resident. “The government’s promises are now exposed as election stunts.”
As the criticism mounts, the National Conference faces growing pressure to address the concerns raised by opposition parties and the public. For now, Omar Abdullah’s budget appears to have done little to quell the dissatisfaction brewing across the Union Territory.
