Manjit demands ‘restoration of democratic system’ in J&K

Samba, Aug 11: Apni Party Provincial President, Jammu and former minister, S. Manjit Singh on Sunday urged for the “restoration of the democratic system” in Jammu & Kashmir.
Addressing a meeting as a part of the election campaign and public outreach program of the party at Bari Brahmana, Singh held a detailed deliberation with the people regarding the prevailing political situation that has impacted their normal life adversely, the party said in a statement.
The former minister said, “There is strong resentment among the people for not restoring statehood to J&K – a historic erstwhile state with vast history. If J&K is considered as the crown of the country, its lost glory must be restored with all the powers to an elected government.”
He added, “As the democratic system is not in place, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been feeling isolated. The feeling of disparity is increasing with the continuation of bureaucratic rule in the erstwhile state since August 2019.”
Singh said the government has not been able to satisfy the will of the people. “Instead, it has given rise to resentment because of its inability to meet the challenge of growing unemployment, grab of J&K’s resources by the outsiders, and pressure tactics to implement unilateral decisions against the interest of the people,” he said
“The people want to be heard. The administration is working as per their own wish without consulting the public representatives. The people are hardly given any kind of heed in the civil secretariat or administration at the local level which has become a serious concern for the people,” he said.
Majit cited an example of pensioners, who were “compelled” at the age of 70 or 80 to verify themselves before the respective treasury or banks across the J&K. “The development, education, and health system has also been affected with no accountability of the officials,” he said.
In this situation, he said, it becomes imperative to restore the statehood and grant all the powers to the elected government of Jammu and Kashmir that would be elected following the proposed legislative assembly elections.