Handwara, Jun 15: People’s Conference (PC) president and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone on Sunday accused the ruling National Conference (NC) government of misusing authority for political vendetta and “miserably failing” in delivering essential public services. He vowed to “expose their inaction” on projects ranging from drinking water and irrigation to education, electricity, healthcare and road infrastructure.
Speaking to reporters at Reddi Chokibal here, Lone said, “The government wields its power by selectively manipulating transfers of teachers to punish families that did not support them, and targeting political enemies through punitive relocations. But when it comes to tangible needs like clean water, roads and electricity, they simply claim powerlessness. They have the power to punish, but why don’t they have the power to deliver?”
He criticised the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department, pointing out the absence of filled posts, no executive engineers, no chief or super engineers. This vacuum has crippled the preparation of project reports necessary for funding under central schemes like the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), he said.
“While states like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana smoothly process and release funds, Jammu and Kashmir lags due to the non-preparation of reports. The result is that the contractors have halted work, stalling the implementation of drinking-water projects,” he said, warning that if current trends continued, J&K could end up spending the least under JJM by 2028.
Lone highlighted critical shortages in rural schools. “In Hamla Pati village, eight classes—from nursery through 5th grade—are being conducted by just two teachers. Teachers for core subjects like math and chemistry have been transferred, compromising educational quality,” he said. “In some schools, there are no math teachers… they transferred everyone,” he lamented.
The MLA announced plans to approach the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate whether teacher transfers adhered to official policy.
The PC chief questioned the lack of action on improving roads and healthcare facilities. He referenced a local hospital and medical college that were awaiting approvals and funds blocked at the bureaucratic level. He demanded visibility into any notes or objections by secretaries or commissioners, urging that any conflicts be made public.
Lone also raised concerns about dual control over roads and urban cleanliness. He questioned who was preventing the cleaning of roads or the removal of garbage dumps in towns like Hanwara. Local urban development and municipal bodies, he argued, have been deliberately.
The MLA Handwara criticised the government’s flagship welfare measures—free electricity, additional gas cylinders, mass job promises, permanentization of daily wagers, and marriage assistance schemes. “These moves hurt poorer families by raising literacy barriers, placing the poorest at a disadvantage when applying for benefits,” he said.
Lone challenged the Chief Minister’s understanding of ground realities, labelling him a “tourist” oblivious to local problems. “Only a Kashmiri local leader could comprehend and address the region’s challenges; foreigners living in a bubble cannot,” he said.
Warning that the government’s “honeymoon” is over after nine months in office, the MLA vowed relentless resistance. Should essential services continue to stall, he said the PC will spearhead street sit-ins “1,000, 2,000, 3,000” strong, marking them with party flags, until projects are unfrozen, teachers restored, and funds released.
“Those who voted for the ruling party are also complicit in derailing development,” he added.
