Desperate for funds, Farooq seeks PM’s intervention

Abdullah, who has been alleging a bureaucratic conspiracy in Delhi to stall funds flow to the cash-starved state, reportedly also spoke to K C Pant, deputy chairperson of the Planning Commission to press for a stately plan.

Abdullah also met Home Minister L K Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandes, Security Advisor to Prime Minister Brijesh Mishra, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and Health Minister Dr C P Thakur. His aides described the meetings as “routine discussions about the security situation in the state.”

However, Abdullah’s main mission reportedly was canvassing for funds. J&K has already received Rs. 400 crore as advance payment against the impending annual plan. Abdullah today said his government has made several representations to the Centre about the necessity to finalise the state’s plan at the earliest. He told Yashwant Sinha that the delayed finalisation of the state’s plan would adversely affect the pace of developmental work as most parts of the state remain snow-bound during the winter.

Abdullah’s demand for liberal funds is based on his claim that the state needed money to rebuild all the infrastructure destroyed in the insurgency during the last decade. However, the Planning Commission is likely to discuss the state’s past indiscretions about funds utilisation during the finalisation of this next plan, sources say.

Sources add that the Centre is reluctant to release more ad hoc payment since the state government is alleged to have been diverting the plan funds to non-plan sectors.