Srinagar, Sep 03 (KNS) : J&K Peoples Democratic Party General Secretary Khurshid Alam has come down heavily on the government over what he described as a systematic assault on Srinagar’s community playfields, warning that depriving young people of recreational spaces is nothing short of pushing them toward a dangerous edge.

In a statement issued, Alam flagged proposals to take over major playgrounds across the city, including Badiwudar-Eidgah, Chan Mohalla Chattabal, NIT Bagat and Chanapora.

He said that vast stretches of these spaces are being eyed for sand extraction and other non-sporting activities, which, in his words, “choke the lungs of the city’s youth.”

“This is a sorry state of affairs from the present dispensation,” Alam said. “At a time when our young generation is already vulnerable to the scourge of drug abuse, the government is stripping them of the very spaces where they can channel their energy into healthy pursuits.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelIt is nothing short of pushing them against the wall.”

Alam accused the administration of ignoring the social fallout of such decisions, arguing that playfields are not mere patches of land but vital lifelines for communities.

“If the government moves ahead with these takeovers, it will be complicit in forcing our youth into the vicious cycle of drugs,” he warned.

He vowed that the PDP will not remain a mute spectator. “Let it be clear. These attempts will face fierce opposition. Public welfare is not negotiable and our fight to protect the rights of Srinagar’s youth will be unflinching,” Alam declared.(KNS)