Srinagar, Aug 28 Alleging that people in the Kashmir valley were facing starvation, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today ridiculed the claim of the divisional administration that there was no shortage of essential commodities.

In a joint statement here, PDP General Secretary Nizamudin Bhat and General Secretary (Youth wing) Bashir Assad accused the administration of misleading the people.

They alleged that the government was blatantly lying at a time when people in the valley were ''crying for essentials and there was a starvation like situation prevalent due to the shortage of essential commodities and eatables.'' The PDP leaders claimed that the people in Kandi and far-flung areas were starving and so were the people of Srinagar city.

''If curfew was clamped on the entire valley to maintain law and order as is being claimed, does it mean the people should starve due to scarcity of essential commodities and even baby food,'' the PDP leaders.

They said that hospitals in Srinagar and other district headquarters were running short of medicines and medical equipment and the administration should have taken appropriate measures.

People in the valley were starving due to lack of essential commodities and medicines, the leaders said and added that the people injured during the ongoing protests were deprived of treatment due to the paucity of medical facilities. They stressed for immediate measures for restoration of health and medical services in the valley.

''Curfew should be immediately lifted and the supply of essentials be restored without any further delay.