SRINAGAR — National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday questioned the Jammu and Kashmir Government and people over their dependence on New Delhi while reacting to the recently approved electricity tariff hike, asking how long the region would continue to rely on the Centre for financial support.
“Till when will you beg before New Delhi? How long will you be a slave of Delhi? Stand on your own feet. When will you stand on your own feet?” Farooq told reporters.
Links issue to Article 370
Linking the issue to the demand for restoration of Article 370, Farooq questioned the position of seeking Article 370 back while continuing to depend on New Delhi for financial assistance.
“You demand Article 370 back and still beg,” he said.
His remarks came amid the controversy over the electricity tariff revision approved by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), which has cleared an average 6.83 per cent increase in retail electricity tariffs in Jammu and Kashmir from September 1.
The tariff hike has triggered political opposition, with the PDP and Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party holding separate protests in Srinagar against the decision.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has defended the tariff increase, describing it as a compulsion arising from the financial condition of the power sector and arguing that previous governments had also approved substantial tariff hikes.
The tariff has been approved by JERC, the statutory electricity regulator for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Following the 2019 reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir, the Central Government constituted the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission on June 18, 2020, under Section 83 of the Electricity Act, 2003.
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