JJ CORRESPONDENT
Vijaypur, Oct 22: Asserting that the BJP govt’s claims of ushering a ‘new era of dawn’ post Article 370 abrogation had proved a farce, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh Chairman-JKNPP and former Minister regretted that the erstwhile state had faced worst ever crisis during the last few years. “The development inertia, the crashing economy, back breaking inflation, soaring unemployment, resentment among farmers and border dwellers, bourgeoning culture of corruption and fast escalating militancy etc have made the situation from bad to worse in J&K”, said Singh. He was addressing huge public rally in Swanka Morh in Vijaypur constituency today which was organized by Mr. Yash Paul Kundal, former Minister, Mr Rajeshwar Singh and Mr Yash Paul Sharma.
Alleging subversion of democracy and denial of popular govt in J&K post Article 370 abrogation, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh said that BJP led govt appeared to be averse to the idea of holding Assembly elections in the new set up. He said that while no initiative had been taken to restore popular rule in J&K, the govt in the UT seemed to have been outsourced to bureaucrats from outside the state, both retired and in-service. The recent recall of one of the Advisors and the reports of his replacement by another Advisor amply revealed the intentions of the centre which seemed hell bent to continue its proxy rule in J&K through these bureaucrats. It was regrettable that rather than retrieving the fast deteriorating situation, the BJP govt was indulging in causing dissensions in other parties and breaking the opposition in furtherance of its vested political interests. He said that with the political process having been rendered defunct in the new UT, political parties discredited and discouraged and opposition parties suppressed, the democracy had been reduced to a farce in J&K which had eventually given rise to present tensions in the valley and elsewhere in J&K. Seeking restoration of popular govt at the earliest, Mr Singh called for handing over power to the sons of soil in J&K.
Asserting that proxy rule of the centre in J&K had done more harm than good, Mr. Singh questioned the rationale behind repeated postponement of Assembly Elections in J&K. Strongly condemning the escalation in militancy related activities, he called upon the centre to initiate political process in J&K and ensure restoration of popular rule in the erstwhile state at the earliest. Rather than suppressing the main-stream political parties, these should be encouraged and taken into confidence for restoration of normalcy in the UT. Remember, the proxy rule through outside bureaucrats was not the solution to the woes afflicting J&K. The Advisors and bureaucrats had hardly any access to the general public who were feeling alienated. An elected govt therefore alone, in view of its accessibility and proximity with the common masses, could enlist their support in fighting cross border terrorism exported by the hostile neighbour. Questioning the rationale behind repeated postponement of Assembly Elections, Mr. Singh said that vested interests in the present bureaucracy were among the biggest stumbling blocks in restoration of democratic govt in J&K.
Mr. Yash Paul Kundal said that the Election Commission had earlier taken a call for simultaneous polls of Assembly and Parliament which however did not materialize. It later issued a statement on 4th June, 2019 stating therein that the EC “after the conduct of Amarnath Yatra will announce the election schedule for the conduct of Assembly Elections in J&K”, revealed Singh adding that it too turned out to be a damp squib. Likewise, statements of early Assembly polls were issued by central govt, Governor and the Lt. Governor of J&K also, which too created only cynicism amongst the masses in view of the frequency with which they were made and then forgotten.
Pointing towards the euphoria created post Article 370 abrogation in the name of fresh Delimitation of Assembly constituencies, Mr. Kundal said that it too had petered out as hardly any progress had been achieved in this regard during the last 18 months.
Asserting that Panthers Party alone could navigate Jammu region, Mr Kundal appealed to the people to support it in the best interests of the people of dogra land.
