Bilal veri cni
Jammu: Amid freezing winter conditions in Jammu, senior BJP leader and party spokesperson Dr Tahir Chowdhary has strongly criticised the Power Development Department (PDD) and the Omar Abdullah–led National Conference (NC) government for failing to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, despite the region’s consumers paying their power bills regularly and on time.
In a statement issued here, Dr Chowdhary said that the ongoing power crisis has added to the misery of people already battling extreme cold.
He accused the NC government of administrative apathy and poor governance, stating that repeated and prolonged power cuts have exposed the government’s failure to prioritise basic civic needs.
“Electricity during winter is not a luxury but a basic necessity. The Omar Abdullah–led NC government has completely failed to safeguard the interests of Jammu’s residents, who are being forced to spend long hours without power in sub-zero temperatures,” Dr Chowdhary said.
He pointed out that consumers in Jammu have consistently paid their electricity bills in a timely manner, even in the face of rising tariffs and financial pressures.
“Jammu pays its bills honestly and regularly. In return, people expect accountability and reliable services. Instead, they are met with darkness and unannounced outages,” he added.
Dr Chowdhary said the power crisis has had a severe impact on students, elderly citizens, patients, and working families.
Students preparing for examinations are struggling to study, while senior citizens and patients are exposed to extreme cold due to the lack of heating facilities caused by power cuts.
He also noted that businesses and small traders are suffering losses, further weakening the local economy.
Taking a direct swipe at the NC leadership, Dr Chowdhary said the Omar Abdullah government’s tall claims of development and governance have fallen flat on the ground.
“The reality on the streets of Jammu is completely different from what the NC government projects. Their governance has failed the common man,” he said.
The BJP spokesperson demanded immediate intervention from the administration to stabilise power supply, improve infrastructure, and ensure proper load management during winter months.
He also called for fixing responsibility on officials who failed to prepare for the seasonal surge in demand.
Dr Chowdhary asserted that Jammu should not be treated as a secondary region and warned that continued neglect would not be tolerated.
“The people of Jammu deserve dignity, warmth, and uninterrupted power. The NC government must wake up from its slumber and act decisively to restore public confidence,” he said. Cni