Absence of democracy hindering progress in J&K: Dr Farooq

Srinagar, Aug 01: National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday said the “imposition of direct rule” from New Delhi has resulted in a surge of bureaucratic hurdles in Jammu & Kashmir, particularly affecting remote areas.
He said this while engaging with a party delegation from Bhaderwah, headed by In Charge Constituency Bhaderwah, Mehboob Iqbal, at the party headquarters here, an official statement issued here said.
Party Vice President, Omar Abdullah, General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, Political Advisor to VP Mudassar Shahmiri and Former MLC Muhammad Iqbal Bhalesi were present on the occasion. The visiting delegation comprised members of the party’s local ST and SC wings.
“The meeting witnessed in-depth interactions regarding the current political and development scenario in the constituency. The visiting delegation members emphasised a multitude of issues including unemployment, development deficit, deteriorating basic civic amenities, lack of utility services, and widespread misgovernance plaguing the constituency,” the statement said.
Iqbal gave a comprehensive overview of the current party initiatives within the constituency.
In his address to the visiting delegation members, Dr Farooq “lamented the devastating effects of direct rule from New Delhi and the absence of a democratically elected government” in the region. He expressed concern over the “daily struggles faced by the people, with no electricity, no water, crumbling roads, dilapidated hospitals, and a complete lack of accountability”.
“The youth, faced with rampant unemployment, have been driven to the brink by the drug menace. Promises made by the government have fallen flat in the face of the multitude of issues plaguing the region. Bhaderwah, a remote area, has borne the brunt of this neglect. Once attended to by dedicated MLAs and MLCs, the region now finds itself at the mercy of bureaucrats who have no connection with the people they are meant to serve,” he said.
“These faceless officials are not held accountable to the public in the way an elected MLA would be. The people of this region are suffering, and their voices are being drowned out by the deafening silence of those in power,” he added.
Omar Abdullah directed the party functionaries to “take on the burdens of the public and amplify their voices at every opportunity”. He said the NC cadre must dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to the cause and tirelessly advocate for the day-to-day struggles faced by the people.
Omar insisted that the doors of the party’s local unit functionaries must remain open 24/7, ready to listen and act on the concerns of the public. “The ongoing public contact programme must be intensified, leaving no doorstep unvisited,” he said.
The NC VP urged the grassroots-level functionaries to knock on every door and explore every corner of the constituency to truly understand the challenges faced by the people.