Srinagar, Dec 19 : Former Chief Minister and President of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the government over what she described as the dangerous normalisation of arbitrary dismissals of employees from government services on the basis of unproven and alleged militant links. She warned that this trend is now being extended to the Ratle Hydroelectric Power Project, threatening both livelihoods and the stability of a key infrastructure initiative.
In a strongly worded post on social media platform X, Mehbooba Mufti said that instead of initiating a credible and transparent investigation into the alleged interference by a BJP MLA in the Ratle project, the government has chosen an easier route by targeting poor and vulnerable workers. She said such actions not only destroy livelihoods but also undermine confidence in governance and justice.
“The arbitrary dismissal of workers without due process has been dangerously normalised,” Mehbooba Mufti said, adding that these measures are now being used as a substitute for accountability. “Instead of probing those in positions of power, the government is penalising daily wage workers and employees who have no role in political or administrative decisions,” she remarked.
The PDP chief cautioned that this approach could have serious consequences for the timely execution of the Ratle Power Project, which is considered critical for strengthening the power infrastructure of Jammu and Kashmir. She said an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among workers can disrupt operations, delay timelines and inflate costs, ultimately harming public interest.
Mehbooba Mufti further argued that governance based on suspicion rather than evidence erodes the rule of law. She stressed that allegations must be examined through fair investigations and legal procedures, rather than being used to justify sweeping punitive actions against employees. “Collective punishment and guilt by association cannot be the basis of governance in a democratic system,” she said.
Highlighting the broader implications, the former Chief Minister said such actions deepen economic distress at a time when unemployment is already high in Jammu and Kashmir. “Stripping people of their livelihoods without proof only pushes families further into uncertainty and desperation,” she noted.
She urged the government to fix responsibility at the top, conduct an impartial inquiry into the alleged political interference, and ensure that workers are protected from arbitrary action. Mehbooba Mufti warned that targeting the weakest sections of society while shielding those in power would only weaken institutions and delay development.
The PDP president concluded by saying that genuine development cannot be achieved by silencing questions or scapegoating workers, but through transparency, accountability and respect for due process.
