Srinagar, Oct 26: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Party Vice President Omar Abdullah on Thursday castigated the Central government for its failure to restore democracy in J&K, saying the country takes pride in calling itself the ‘mother of democracy’ on global stages but the same democracy fails to reach Jammu and Kashmir.
He said this while addressing a one-day delegate session at Surankote in Poonch. Decrying the lack of democracy in J&K, Omar said the entire region is witnessing its worst phases in the absence of a democratic government. “It has been nearly a decade since the Assembly elections were held last time in 2014. People across J&K are united in their quest to restore democracy but those at the helm are not ready to reflect upon the gravity of the situation,” he said.
The NC leader slammed the incumbent bureaucratic setup for its “anti-people” policies, saying, “Persecution of people in the name of hiked electricity bills, toll taxes, inflation, and ration curtailment.”
Criticising the government’s “slack attitude” on conducting elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the former chief minister said the people of New Delhi say that India is the “mother of democracy”, but what happens to the mother’s love as soon as they come to Jammu and Kashmir. “The last time elections were held here was in 2014. It has been 9 years since then. I do not understand why Jammu and Kashmir is being deprived of elections. People have the right to choose their government. It is clear that those who walk with a big chest of BJP are scared from inside and are not ready to face the people and after the results of the Kargil elections, this fear must have increased,” he said.
Omar also alleged that corruption has become so entrenched in the administration that the government’s own senior officials are alleging embezzlement of crores of rupees. Unfortunately, these allegations are not being investigated, he added.
Taking a potshot at the government, he said investigative agencies are only meant to harass political parties. “Is it only mandated to raid the houses of those who oppose the BJP?” He said that the cases of scams of thousands of crores by the Jammu and Kashmir government are being brushed under the carpet.
