Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 9: Accusing the PDP as well BJP of adopting double standards and compromising with their ideological position for the lust of power, Congress Legislature Party leader, Nawang Rigzin Jora today grilled the coalition Government for its failure on all fronts.
“This Government has done nothing good except cutting ribbons of the works initiated by the previous regime while the security situation has turned from bad to worst,” he said while participating in discussion on Motion of Thanks on Governor’s address in the Lower House.
Referring about the recent selection lists by JKPSC and SSB, he alleged that discrimination with Jammu region has increased in all sectors during the present Government. “Jammu gave 25 BJP MLAs and see what did they get in return? What did you do to make Jammu an independent tourist destination?” asked the Congress MLA and pointed towards virtual stalling of various projects like Mubarak Mandi Conservation, Tawi Artificial Lake, Bahu Fort Cable Car project etc.
Mocking at BJP for forgetting its all time slogan of `Eik Nishan, Eik Vidhan, Eik Pradhan (One Flag, one Constitution, one head) for the lust of power, Jora dubbed PDP’s `Self Rule’ slogan as family rule. “It was father Mufti Mohd Sayeed, now Mehbooba Mufti and then brother Tassaduq Mufti. Their Self Rule will complete when Tassaduq Mufti will be the Chief Minister and Mehbooba Mufti becomes party president visiting again the bereaved families as she used to do earlier,” he jeered.
The Congress MLA alleged contradictions between the ruling alliance partners vis-à-vis various issues like West Pak Refugees, Homeland for Kashmiri Pandits etc and also pooh-poohed the appointment of Dineshwar Sharma as Centre’s representative for talks on Kashmir. “He (Dineshwar Sharma) goes to Kupwara again and again and it seems that for him Jammu Kashmir State is Kupwara only,” he said
“The militancy is on rise while our Army Jawans are also getting martyred in border shelling. The overall situation has turned from bad to worse.” he further said and claimed that Maharashtra and Gujarat Government had unofficially issued an advisory to their people against visiting Jammu Kashmir State
Jora also called for political reservation to tribal community and demanded establishment of Cold Reservation and Thermal Plant in the State.
NC MLA Mubarak Gul, while taking part in the discussion, accused the Coalition Government of contradictions, which was leading to confusion. He suggested that a delegation of all three regions of the State and PoK be formed to discuss way and means for resolution of Kashmir issue. He stressed that the Government needs to take steps to bring positive change on the ground for restoring peace in the State.
“The Government must come up with an action plan to open the channels of communications between public, administration and Government to restore a peaceful environment in the Valley,” he said while expressing serious concern over increasing number of locals joining militant ranks.
Raja Manzoor Ahmad of PDP called for consensus between different political parties to ensure a meaningful and result oriented dialogue in the State with different stakeholders to ensure peace in the region.
He called for construction of Tunnel on Sadna Top connecting Kupwara with Tanghdar and also drew attention of the House towards plights of border inhabitations because of border firing, following which the Deputy Speaker Nazir Gurezi, who was in the Chair, directed the Government to look into the demand for construction of bunkers in border areas of Tangdhar, Gurez and Karnah.
Dina Nath Bhagat of BJP thanked the Government for showing improvement in various sectors but suggested that lot more needs to be done for increasing Agriculture production, ensuring teachers in schools and doctors in Health Centres across the State and old age pension to needy.
Abdul Rahim Rather of PDP, while taking part in the discussion, suggested the stone pelters against whom more than one FIRs have been registered, may also be granted amnesty. He also demanded regularization of the deserving leftout daily wagers and correction in record.
While taking part in the discussion, Congress MLA Usman Majeed urged Government to increase the public welfare measures being undertaken, besides ensuring benefits of these initiatives reach the grass root level. He further asked for increasing transparency and accountability in the system.
He said that Government should facilitate Special Representative Dineshwar Sharma so that every stakeholder is included in the dialogue process. He also demanded timely completion of Kishenganga Power project besides completion of protection works on Madhumati Nallah. He appealed the Government to take strict action against non performing contractors besides blacklisting those who cause unnecessary delays on timely completion of the projects.
He also urged for proper execution of flood management plan for river Jhelum and for timely and judicious utilization of funds allocated under the project. He also asked for a Women’s Degree College for Bandipora.
NC’s Shamima Firdous said that a conspiracy was hatched to dislodge Sehikh Abdullah from power in 1953. She blamed former Prime Minister of the State, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed for hatching a conspiracy in this regard with then Delhi Government and imprisoning the Sheikh Abdullah.
She said later again the NC leader was jailed by Delhi Government to silence his voice as he had intended to create a Constitution of Naya Kashmir to maintain its distinct identity.
She said Kashmiris have been witnessing blood shed since 1931 and credit goes to NC which kept Kashmir issue alive.
The NC leader while turning tables on the Government accused it of killing the innocent youth in the State and termed them martyrs. She said that the situation was brought to normalcy by the efforts of NC after it assumed power in 1996 but it has returned to 1990 position due to wrong policies of present Government.
NC’s Mian Altaf Ahmed accused both PDP and BJP who are the coalition partners of misleading the people of the State in its poll manifesto in 2014.
Making a frontal attack on coalition said PDP promised restoration of peace in the State, making borders calm and improving relations with Pakistan. The BJP on the other hand promised abrogation of Article 370. The two parties befooled the people for the sake of power, he added.
Mian Altaf said the situation is totally contrary at present and neither peace has been restored on borders nor relations improved with Pakistan. The BJP also left the 370 issue, he added.
He also asked the Government what it has done for the border people and what happened to its promise of constructing colonies for them, grant of compensation for live stock etc.
Congress MLA, Vikar Rasool accused the present Government of discriminating with erstwhile Doda district and twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch in development. He said the Government failed to hold Panchayat and Local body elections during last three years of its rule. In first Governor’s address it had promised to hold both Panchayat and local body elections in the State. There is also no mention about the return of power projects in Governor address which included in previous Governor addresses.
Terming situation worst in the State, he said the efforts for restoring normalcy had started since 2002 and situation had turned peaceful in the State though there were some unpleasant incidents in 2010 but it had not deteriorated to the extent as present.
PDP’s Abdul Majid Padder however hailed the Governor address and polices of present coalition. He said the power scenario in Kashmir had improved for the first time in last 30 years and credit goes to this Government.
BJP’s Jeewan Lal also hailed the Governor address and projected various problems of his Constituency which he said needed immediate attention. He, while lauding the Government performance said it deserves credit as the development which took place in last three year’s of the coalition rule has not taken place in 10 years of opposition rule.
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