Srinagar, May 25: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference general secratary Ali Muhammad Sagar on Thursday questioned why the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was normal for global summits but not assembly elections.
According to a party statement issued here, Sagar while addressing party functionaries at NC headquarters here said, “If the situation is so normal to hold such global summits in Kashmir why not elections then? Is posturing on tourism more important than letting the people choose a representative government? It’s being claimed that the government has been focusing on the four Ps for the past four years which entails Peace, Progress, Prosperity and People first, why not democracy? Unfortunately, hope for the restoration of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir is dying with the ruling party in no mood to restore it knowing a devastating debacle awaits them. However, the Centre must learn from the past. Only a free and fair election can revive peace-building in the region.”
Commenting on the Centre’s motto of ‘Development with Transparency’, Sagar said, “How can transparency be ensured in the absence of an elected legislature? There are no discussions on public expenditure, agricultural, economic and other policy matters. New Delhi must look back on its actions that have led to widespread corruption and administrative apathy in Jammu and Kashmir. It must also introspect on how far its actions have been successful for peacemaking. The ground situation across JK has not transformed. People are dissatisfied with the multiple issues of governance and administration.”
