New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference president and MLA Sajad Gani Lone criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for endorsing BJP’s Naya Kashmir vision in his budget speech. He accused the National Conference of suddenly accepting government statistics it had dismissed for a decade.
Abdullah, presenting J&K’s first budget in seven years, allocated ₹1.12 lakh crore for 2025-26, calling it a roadmap for growth. He also praised PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for their support.
Reacting on X, Lone said the government is now embracing statistics it once called “fudged or fictional.” He expected a “politically viable & economically vibrant” budget instead of a mere outlay report.
He criticized the promised 200 units of free electricity, saying it only benefits AAY households and is tied to a Centrally Sponsored Roof Top scheme with a 65% central share and a 3KV cap. He also noted that linking welfare payments to DA means real benefits depend on zero inflation.
Lone slammed fuel price hikes—₹1/liter for petrol and ₹2/liter for diesel—due to reduced rebates. He said the budget ignored employment, daily wagers, and contractual workers. The mention of shifting the police budget, he added, was framed as an achievement, while the “soul of statehood” was reduced to mere numbers.
He accused Abdullah of writing a “love letter” to BJP, saying, “The PM, HM, and Finance Minister were praised more than once. Love letter to BJP, Part II.”
Lone called the budget disappointing, noting that it relied on Hindi-named Centrally Sponsored Schemes, exposing a gap between political rhetoric and economic realities.
