Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today laid foundation stones for three projects in twin districts of Srinagar and Budgam but the local MLAs, including NC leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, were missing from the functions as they were apparently not invited.
Mehbooba laid foundation stones for two major parking projects in Srinagar and for the Rs 31.82 crore Magam- Beerwah-Budgam road upgradation project in Beerwah.
While the two parking projects in Srinagar come under Amira Kadal Assembly constituency represented by Mehbooba's own party member Syed Altaf Bukhari, the Beerwah constituency of Budgam district is represented by Omar Abdullah, the opposition leader.
Both the MLAs were apparently not invited to the government functions in their respective constituencies.
Not only where the two local MLAs absent from the official function, their names were also not put on the plaque of the foundation stone.
Bukhari was Minister for Roads and Buildings in the previous PDP-BJP coalition government led by Mehbooba's late father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
While Bukhari was not present at the function, MLC Khurshid Alam, a PDP leader from Srinagar, attended the event.
Bukhari was not available for a comment.
However, National Conference said Omar was not invited to the function at Beerwah.
"Omar was not invited to the foundation stone laying ceremony in his own constituency. We came to know about it this morning only," an NC leader said.
He said this is "petty politics" by the ruling party but everyone knows who got this project sanctioned.
Omar's political secretary Tanvir Sadiq tweeted, "Mehbooba after attempting to scuttle Beerwah Magam road now surreptitiously inaugurates the same. Shamelessness or political opportunism?"
In response to a tweet by the PDP that "the inclusive development approach of this govt (government) is unlike that of the previous NC govt when opposition constituencies were ignored", Sadiq wrote "Ya right, that's why without informing anyone, your madam discreetly cuts the ribbon of a road you people tried ur (your) best to scuttle. #Petty".
Earlier in the day, women separatist activists tried to damage the foundation stone at the State Motor Garage parking in Srinagar but were chased away by the police.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
