DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
JAMMU, Feb 1
Apni Party Provincial President, Jammu, and Former Minister, S. Manjit Singh today expressed concern over unruly delay in holding elections for Legislative Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir that has weakened the democratic institutions.
He said that these institutions i.e., elected Govt, Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI), Block Development Council (BDC), Urban Local Body (ULB) should be restored because the people in both the regions of Jammu and Kashmir have been facing the brunt of the administrative rule that ignores the public view and frame policies as per their wishes.
The Former Minister gave this statement during a monthly meeting of the Apni Party leaders here at Vijaypur to review the working of the Party and its units, besides, holding threadbare discussion regarding the existing political situation.
During the meeting, Manjit Singh referred to various development issues, widening work of Jammu-Srinagar Highway as a part of Expressway that has dented the business activities, and constantly posed threat of road mishaps with bad condition of highway from Vijaypur, Bari Brahmana up to Kunjwani.
“The shopkeepers in Vijaypur and adjoining areas along the national highway have suffered badly with the widening work, and more so with regard to the compensation that was insufficient,” he said.
He said that had there been an elected Govt in J&K, the local issues would have been addressed as per the wishes of the people while keeping a balanced approach. However, the situation is opposite in the present form of Govt where the babus are not considering the public concerns and proceeding with their planned initiatives even if it compromises the interest of the public.
“Unfortunately, the developmental works/initiatives taken up by the administration in Jammu and Kashmir could not be completed in a time bound manner, and there was no accountability on the officials despite lapse of time, and passing of deadlines,” he said.
He also referred to the exploitation of the local population as contract-based workers in industrial workers.
“The industrial units have hired employees from out of Jammu and Kashmir by ignoring the local youth regarding employment that has caused resentment among the people,” he added. He further said that these issues could only be addressed when there is an elected Govt in Jammu and Kashmir, but unfortunately the elections have been delayed without citing any reason.
“Several years have passed, yet the Election Commission of India has yet to announce polls for legislative elections in J&K,” he said, while resenting the continuation of the administrative rule in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that the expiry of the BDCs, ULBs, and PRIs terms has further alienated the people and weakened these institutions with the widening of gap between the masses and the administration especially when the schedule for holding elections are yet to be announced.
