Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 19: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Habba Kadal constituency, Arif Laigroo, vows to address the area’s longstanding development issues, combat the growing drug menace among youth, and prioritize the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits if elected in the upcoming elections.
Speaking on the challenges facing Habbakadal constituency, Laigroo expressed disappointment over the neglect shown by previous MLAs and outlined his vision for improving the area.
“Former MLAs took the community for granted, leaving Habbakadal behind in terms of development,” he said. He pointed out that the low voter turnout, due to a culture of boycotts, enabled representatives to win with a small number of votes. “This area is home to many low-income groups-people who leave early for work and return late, just to put food on the table,” he said.
Electricity is a significant concern for residents, with inflated bills putting additional pressure on households that are already financially strained. “People here are worried because they cannot afford to pay the electricity bills. There has to be a policy to provide relief for them,” he said.
He also expressed alarm over the rise of drug addiction among educated youth in the area. “We have seen postgraduates driving auto rickshaws and MBA holders struggling to find work. Their financial situation has driven many into depression, and some have turned to drugs,” he said.
The candidate stressed the need for a comprehensive rehabilitation policy, promising to establish a drug de-addiction center and provide counselling to help youth get back on their feet. “The youth of Habbakadal are hardworking, but they are trapped in a cycle of unemployment and drug abuse. We need to intervene now before it is too late,” he added.
Laigroo said the welfare and rehabilitation of the Pandits has always been a priority for the PDP. He recalled the efforts initiated by the late PDP leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in 2002 to rehabilitate the Pandit community. “Our party has always worked for the safe return and integration of Kashmiri Pandits. We will continue that work if given the mandate,” he said.
Reflecting on the political challenges the PDP faced after the abrogation of Article 370, he criticized the BJP for dismantling the party through non-democratic means. “After Article 370 was revoked, the BJP’s first move was to break the PDP. Forty-one leaders left our party-some due to pressure, others due to threats,” he said. Despite these challenges, the candidate pointed out that the PDP made a strong impact in the District Development Council (DDC) elections, securing 28 seats. “Even when our senior leaders were in jail or under house arrest, we won two chairmanships and two vice chairmanships,” he said.
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