Jammu, Sep 25: Apni Party Provincial President Jammu and Former Minister S Manjit Singh has demanded the “restoration of democratic system” in Jammu and Kashmir to address the growing concerns of the people.
“The people have been in despair for the last several years in both regions because of the absence of an elected government. The issues have multiplied, and the bureaucracy has failed to resolve the issues. However, the attempt to cover up the public anger against the authorities has resulted in protests a couple of weeks back,” he said while addressing a meeting in Samba.
The meeting was organized by Mandeep Singh Mannu at Ward Number 8 in Bari Brahmana to discuss prevailing political situations and issues confronted by the people. “However, the people were annoyed with the way the Legislative Assembly is being delayed without any reason, and referred to the rumours about attempts to delay scheduled Urban Local Body and Panchayati elections in J&K,” Singh said.
He said certain elements do not want a peaceful atmosphere with an intention to delay elections in J&K for one reason or another. The anger among the people should be addressed without further delay by holding Assembly polls in J&K, he added.
Some of the top-ranking bureaucrats do not want elections because they run the government as per their wishes and they fear their power will be taken over by an elected government, Manjit said.
If we form the next government, we will identify such elements in the government who are bent upon creating differences among the union and state governments and show them doors, he said while criticising the officials responsible for creating disorder in J&K.
He said the elected representatives are responsible to the people and these babus are not answerable to anyone. “The issue of NHAI, Toll Tax Collection, poor planning in Smart City Project, involvement of mining and liquor mafia etc are such examples that Jammu will not forget and the elected government will seek answers from babus,” he said.
He, however, assured the people that the Apni Party was committed to revamping the living standard of the people by providing them with a stable government that would represent both regions equally. He again stressed that the Legislative Assembly, Urban Local Body and Municipal elections are a must so that elected representatives can resolve the issues and be involved in the planning of schemes for public welfare and developmental works.
