Jammu, Feb 20: Apni Party Provincial President, Jammu and former minister on Tuesday sought restoration of the democratic system in Jammu and Kashmir, saying there is a growing feeling of dissatisfaction with the administration and apparent collapse of the public delivery system.
“The people from all the regions have expressed anguish over the working of the administration in their respective areas, and the adamant attitude of the bureaucracy that has completely disassociated people with the system of governance. Thus, the basic structure of governance does not reach at the ground level, and the schemes, and benefits become a showcase for the babus to write in the progress reports,” Singh said while addressing a deputation of people in Vijaypur.
The deputation, according to a party statement, had called on him to express their resentment over the delay in holding elections because the public grievances had not been addressed in their respective areas by the bureaucracy.
Addressing the deputation, he said that the Election Commission of India is holding elections in many states of the country, yet the legislative assembly elections schedule has not been issued for Jammu and Kashmir. “The J&K has long been waiting for the assembly elections. The people in both the regions of J&K strongly believe that the Election Commission of India should hold assembly elections, and parliamentary elections together in Jammu and Kashmir to address the growing public issues,” he said.
He said “Government officials have no understanding of ground reality. They work from the four walls of their offices and hardly listen to what people want in their areas. Hence, it has hampered the development as well as widening the gap between the government and the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
To deal with the situation, he said that it becomes imperative for the authorities to declare elections so that the democratic system can be restored.
The Apni Party leader said the Urban Local Body, Panchayati Raj, and Block Development Council tenure have also expired, and the authorities have yet to take a call regarding these elections.
“There is uneasiness among the people without an elected government. The authorities should understand that the direct rule of babus cannot be continued for years together without an elected government,” he said while cautioning the authorities against the continuation of the bureaucratic rule where the people have lost their voice.
