Excelsior Correspondent
RAFIABAD, Nov 25: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said the incompetence of political leadership and not the administration is responsible for mis-governance in the State. He said it is the same administration which delivered during PDP rule but unfortunately the selfishness within the present dispensation led by National Conference has rendered it meaningless and defunct.
Addressing a well attended public meeting in Rafiabad, Mufti said governance deficit in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to a level where the administration in absence of a pro-people political direction has failed even in providing basic amenities like electricity, cooking gas, safe drinking water, roads and ration to the people.
The PDP patron attributed the prevailing administrative inertia in the State to the political ineptitude of National Conference that has not only bartered its own agenda but people’s sufferings in lieu of power. “It is the lust for power that National Conference has never reached out or identified itself with the common masses whose miseries have witnessed a manifold increase since 2009,” Mufti remarked.
He said even if the dismal developmental situation because of mis-governance is same everywhere in the State but people living in rural and far flung areas are the worst suffers of the wrong policies of the present Government. Mufti said people are being deprived of basic amenities at the cost of comfort and luxuries enjoyed by the families of the present dispensation led by National Conference.
Mufti said the prevailing gas crisis has once again exposed the present Government which does not feel ashamed to see the people standing in long queues in freezing temperatures to get hold of a gas cylinder. He regretted that a gentleman had lost his life in pursuit of a gas cylinder and that should represent the lasting shame of the present coalition.
Criticising the Government for introducing an element of discrimination in development, Mufti said the previous coalition had extended the development process evenly across regions and sub regions to all areas irrespective of political affiliations. He said though the entire State was facing acute problems on account of rampant corruption, misgovernance and political bankruptcy of rulers the Government had singled out areas represented by opposition for maltreatment. He said the planning process had been subverted and the Chief Minister was utilizing plan funds as if it was his discretionary grant.
He mentioned that decision to cancel Block Development Council (BDCs) elections was a clear indication that this Government does not want to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions in Jammu and Kashmir. PDP patron said that the present regime has dishonoured mandate of the people who had turned out in large number of cast vote in Panchayat elections which were held in the month of April 2011.
Speaking on the occasion, Muzaffar Hussain Beigh said the present Coalition Government has completely failed to reach out to people. “Today we are here not to seek votes from you and it is not any election time that we have gathered here to seek your support. But we want to express our apprehension that people will get disenchanted with the political process if the trend to disconnect with the people set by the National Conference led Coalition Government continued in future,” Beigh said.
Referring to the Omar Abdullah’s visits to different district in south Kashmir, Beigh said that it is not that he is interested in the problems faced by the people but to seek vote for their candidates nominated for Legislative Council elections. “I wonder with what faith Omar seeks votes from the Panchs and Sarpanchs who have been humiliated to the hilt by his Government.
On the claims made by Omar Abdullah that NC-Congress is a natural coalition, Beigh said where was this coalition when his party boycotted Congress calling it ‘Gandi Nali Ke keede’. “This is all about power. Sheikh Abdullah forged an alliance with Jawahar Lal Nehru for power and with certain differences that crept in the coalition fell apart. Then this party formed a coalition with Indira Gandhi for power that fell apart. Then Farooq Abdullah formed a coalition with Rajeev Gandhi again for power, but that coalition fell spaced out. Now Omar Abdullah is in coalition with Congress just for power and how can they claim it is a natural coalition. Where was this natural coalition when National Conference joined hands with BJP, RSS, Shiv Sena?” Beigh asked.
PDP general secretary Dilawar Mir, Dr Sameer Kaul party National spokesperson and Naeem Akhter, the chief spokesman and Rajinder Manhas, Vice President Youth Wing of PDP also addressed the gathering.
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