BJP’s remote controlled governance in J&K resulting in alienation: Harsh

Harsh Dev Singh addressing a public meeting in Chenani Constituency.
Harsh Dev Singh addressing a public meeting in Chenani Constituency.

Excelsior Correspondent
CHENANI, July 23: Reiterating the demand for early restoration of democracy in J&K, Harsh Dev Singh, former Minister and senior AAP leader today said that the erstwhile state was being illogically and illegitimately deprived of popular Govt in violation of constitutional guarantees as well as the ‘obiter dicta’ laid down by the Apex court over the subject.
“A remote controlled system of governance could not be the solution for the woes and sufferings of the people of J&K. It’s the local leaders and local Ministers and elected MLAs who could better address the concerns of their people and bail them out from their sufferings and pains. It has only led to peoples’ alienation,” said Singh while addressing public meetings in Omala, Kotti Bala and Cherri villages of Chenani constituency during his two days tour.
Harsh Dev Singh asserted that the outside bureaucrats and New Delhi leaders could not be the substitute for legitimate, elected Govt which alone could address the peculiar problems of the new set up in J&K.
“While the unprecedented power cuts and drinking water scarcity have made the lives of people a living hell, the proxy Govt imposed by the Centre is acting as a mute spectator. No concrete measures is being taken to address the chaotic situation which has created massive resentment all over the UT,” he said, adding that the situation was the same with regard to other Deptts including Health, Education, RDD with no takers for the genuine concerns of the aggrieved masses.
Singh said that the Centre’s proxy rule in J&K was antithetical to democracy and amounted to subversion of the Constitution. “The Constitution categorically provided for a federal system of governance with timely elections for the Union as well as State legislatures. The people can’t be deprived of their legitimate rights to have an elected Govt of their own. Any further delay to hold elections would only amount to violation of the Indian Constitution which the Centre claims to have extended to the UT of J&K,” said Harsh Dev Singh, adding that it would further be violative of the directives of the Supreme Court which has held that election should be completed within six months in all those States/UTs wherein the Assemblies are dissolved prematurely.
Manju Singh, Rampaul Bhagat, Raj Kumar, Chanchal Singh, Gopal Singh, Narinder Singh and others also addressed the public meetings.