PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti calls for special budget allocation for downtown Srinagar

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, FEBRUARY 01 (STC): Former Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has called for a special budget allocation for downtown Srinagar. Socio-economic challenges, youth unemployment, and a growing mental health crisis merit this special budget approach, she said during her visit to Shehar-e-Khass today.
The PDP Chief said residents of the downtown area were facing multiple difficulties and that raising concerns openly had become increasingly difficult.
“We have come here because people of Srinagar’s downtown area are facing many challenges,” she said. “Today, even raising one’s voice has become difficult.”
She highlighted incidents involving shawl sellers and students facing violence and drew attention to young people held as undertrials for extended periods.
She said she had met families whose children were lodged in jails and that legal interventions were being pursued in courts.
“If these Kashmiris are not brought back to local jails, I can approach the Supreme Court,” she added.
She also addressed concerns over mental health and drug abuse among youth, urging that depression be acknowledged and addressed rather than ignored.

(Straight Talk Communications)