PULWAMA — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and legislator Waheed ur Rehman Para held a brief interaction with the media on the sidelines of a party program in its Pulwama office on Wednesday. During the interaction, Para said that the current National Conference-led government has the power to drop cases against young people who are imprisoned or facing legal hurdles, but implied they lack the political will to do so.
He said the previous PDP-led government’s amnesty for youth, where thousands of FIRs were withdrawn, stands as a precedent, which is in sharp contrast to the present inaction by the government. Para emphasised that the issue of youth facing legal complications, including pending FIRs and blocked passport verifications, is a political issue requiring strong political intervention rather than a purely judicial approach.
Para slammed the current government for failing to deliver on key election promises made to the people of J&K. He added that almost two years into their rule, there has been little progress.
He specifically targeted the government’s failure to generate the promised 1 lakh jobs for youth and criticised the imposition of a flat ₹3,000 electricity rate, which he described as an undue burden on common households.
Criticising the BJP-led Centre, Para accused the ruling party of using divisive tactics to divert public attention from alleged electoral irregularities, such as mass vote deletions.
While responding to a question, he acknowledged the severe infrastructure challenges, particularly regarding water and roads, stating that an 18-crore water project has been approved to address chronic shortages in Pulwama town.
Para also reiterated that he strongly opposed the continued closure of civilian traffic on the National Highway. He added that these actions often stop local transport and are a form of discrimination that makes Kashmiris feel alienated. He pledged that if the administration fails to address the issue, he would take it to the streets.
It is pertinent to mention here that the gathering at the Pulwama office on Wednesday is seen as a preparatory meeting of local party leadership and workers, given the PDP’s planned “Srinagar Chalo” event and foundation day commemoration scheduled for November 2, 2026.
