Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Mar 5: Dubbing Governor Address as “misleading, directionless and disturbing document”, senior leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Muzaffar Hussain Baig today said that all the claims made in it are “hollow and bereft of facts”.
Participating in the debate on Governor’s Address in the Legislative Assembly, Baig said this document has not laid down any target or guidelines for next year. He maintained that in the document, the Government has to narrate and set out its road map for the coming years and to highlight achievements of the previous years.
In this document the Government has also to reveal achievements it had made in the previous year in bringing peace, progress and prosperity and also the efforts to bring transparency and accountability in the governance, he said.
“Unfortunately on all these parameters, the Governor’s address shows no worth mentioning achievements”, he said and added that achievements mentioned in the document were either achieved or started during the previous regimes headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Ghulam Nabi Azad. The present Government has been brazenly trying to take credit of the achievements of previous PDP-Congress regime in the State, he added.
The Governor address has not mentioned or revealed any step that indicated that the Government was serious in bringing transparency and accountability in the governance.
While pointing out that there has been no progress in the front of peace, Mr Baig said that the Governor address was silent on the implementation of reports of the five Working Groups set up by the Prime Minister. “It is also silent on what action the Cabinet Sub-Committee has taken on the Sageer Committee report. Apparently no progress has been made due to difference between Congress and National Conference”, he said and added that the document was also silent on the report of the Interlocutors, who were appointed after killing of 120 Kashmir youth in the year 2010.
“It is also silent why no action has been taken against the culprits who were responsible for the killings of 120 youth”, he said, adding, “the document has no mention about Government’s stand on Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) after the Army Chief had outrightly rejected this demand on January 3, 2013”.
Mr Baig said that Government has not made its stand clear on the demand of a member of the ruling party to conduct plebiscite or statement of National Conference leader Mustafa Kamaal, who had claimed that Indian intelligence agencies were destroying Jammu and Kashmir politically and constitutionally.
Taking a dig at the State Government for its failure to formulate any comprehensive policy for unemployed youth of the State, Mr Baig pointed out that Governor’s address lacks clarity on all important issues.
Describing the Governor’s address as clueless, the CPI (M) State Secretary and MLA Kulgam, M. Y. Tarigami said even important issues like promotion of the peace process has not been addressed, neither there is any mention of ways and means how to overcome obstacles and stumbling blocks in strengthening the process of dialogue and reconciliation.
Tarigami said that the trade across LoC and People’s movement is virtually halted adding that the address has not detailed out the ways to remove the obstacles. He also sought to inform the House about the progress and status of rehabilitation plan announced by the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah about return of Kashmiri youth stranded across the borders.
He alleged that no forward movement has been registered about the return of Kashmiri migrants, though several announcements were made by the successive Governments at Centre and state levels. He said despite expressing keenness about the rehabilitation and return of Kashmiri migrants, no tangible progress was visible in this regard.
Tarigami also sought concrete measures to tackle the growing unemployment problem, strengthen the anti-graft institutions and urged to amend the Accountability Commission Act to empower the commission to take suo-moto cognizance of corruption complaints.
The Governor’s address is directionless to the extend that there seems no effort to bring out the State out of Chaos, confusion and growing dependence at the Centre, said senior leader and MLA Jammu West Prof Chaman Lala Gupta.
He said it is ridiculous situation that it was endorsed that the forces have played a great role in combating cross border terror and providing security to the common man but at the same time efforts are being made to malign the forces by leveling frivolous charges so as to create an impression if they are alien. Thus an encouragement is created to the elements of secessionism and cross border terror, he added.
Prof Gupta said Jammu Kashmir is legally and constitutionally an irrevocable part of India but under communal and other considerations the agents of hostile forces are being termed as stakeholders but the fact remains Pakistan has no locus standi and its position is not more than that of an aggressor.
He said greater autonomy is being sought to distance the State from the Centre but at the same time more and more funds are sought on the plea that the State is a part of India and thus to secure funds is our right.
Gupta took strong exception to naming Guru as Sahib saying he was mastermind in Parliament attack. Panchayti Raj should be made a reality by incorporating 73 and 74th amendment of Indian Constitution. There is much talk that Kashmiri Pandits are part of parcel of Kashmiriat but little practical steps are being taken for their return and rehabilitation with dignity in the Valley, he added.
JSM MLA Ashwani Sharma praised the security forces for restoration of peace in the strife torn state saying they deserve all applauds. Highlighting the problems of 1947,1965 and 1971 refugees he demanded that their problems be settled and strongly advocated for granting of citizenship rights to West Pak refugees.
Accusing Government of discrimination with Jammu, Mr Sharma said the region is facing total injustice and demanded constitution of Delimitation Commission to give Jammu its due share in representative bodies. He while strongly condemning the beheading of Indian soldier in Mendhar sector by Pak troops in January this year said the entire House should have condemned it.
He also stressed on increasing the honorarium of Sarpanchs and Panchs.
Engineer Rashid while defending his demand for demanding plebiscite in J&K said there was nothing wrong in it as Kashmiris still celebrate Eid with Pakistan. He said world saw the mourning of Guru by Kashmiris.
He said no one will beg before India for Guru’s body and the day will come as Britishers apologized for killings in Jalanwala Bagh in Punjab, India will apologize for killing of Guru, Bhat and other Kashmiris.
He said had his resolution on Guru taken for debate in Assembly the situation would have been different.
G M Saroori of Congress demanded tabling of Finance Commission report in the House. He regretted that Ghulam Nabi Azad who also did a lot of work for the development of the State was not included in Governor’s address. He demanded elections to Local bodies, municipalities and District Development boards.
Rashpal Singh (NC) demanded establishing more Polytechnic Colleges, factories to create job opportunities for the unemployed youth of the Rajouri. He also sought tapping of tourism potential in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch. He also demanded launching of more welfare schemes for Gujjar and Bakerwals.
Mohammad Sharief Niaz (Congress) lauded the steps taken by the Government to restore peace and order in the State. He appealed all members cutting across party affiliations to make collective efforts to maintain sustained peace for the overall development of all three regions of the State.
Niaz appreciated the legislations brought for improving the basic services for the people, adding that the legislations, particularly the PSGA, and RTI are best tools to ensure services to the people in a time bound manner. He demanded opening new health centres and upgradation of power infrastructure in his constituency.
Jugal Kishore (BJP) while opposing the Governor’s Address said that Government’s policies are not people friendly and common man is hardly managing two times meals. He said prices of essential commodities have risen and Government has no control at all. He demanded addressing the issues of PoK/West Pakistani refugees on priority. He also sought review of present recruitment policy.
Syed Aga Ruhulla Mehdi (NC) asked the Government to concentrate on consolidation of infrastructure to reap the benefits of various schemes. He also stressed on all the parties to make united efforts to restore complete peace in the State, which is pre-requisite for the overall development and welfare of the people.
Aijaz Jan (NC) supported the Address and appreciated the performance of the Government. He said Government has tried to address the problems of people of all sections of the society and succeeded in ensuring good governance. He stressed the need for opening more bank branches, speeding up the process of development in the bad pockets of Poonch. He demanded streamlining the health facilities in Poonch.
Javid Ahmad Dar (NC) highlighted the landmark decisions of the Coalition Government for overall development of the State. He said that with the completion of these ambitious projects, the people of the State could reap its benefits soon.
Prof. Gharu Ram and Mr. Charanjit Singh demanded up-gradation of irrigation facilities in their respective areas.
Nizam-u-Din Bhat demanded taking concrete steps for addressing the issues confronting the State. He asked the State Government to adopt pro youth approach in its policies.
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