Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 12: BJP National Executive Member and J&K chief spokesperson Dr Jitendra Singh has held the National Conference (NC)-Congress Coalition Government accountable for the acute fiscal crisis into which it has landed the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Commenting on the current financial crunch, he said as the coalition enters the last leg of its six year term, it cannot be allowed the liberty to leave empty State coffers behind it.
Taking a dig, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Government which clamours for “autonomy”, is unable to release the salary of its employees on time and the ruling party which took over in 2008 with the promise of ushering in a new era of development is sparing only Rs 9378 crore for developmental activities out of the State’s total budget of 38608 crore because remaining 75 percent of the budget goes for paying salaries and pension of the employees.
Dr Jitendra disclosed that J&K has a total employee strength of 3.90 lakh and their annual salary bill including pension of former employees is around Rs 28,690 crore. Inability to generate sufficient funds for this purpose has resulted in regular protests by employees’ unions, making it virtually a perennial feature during the entire term of the NC led Coalition Government, he observed.
He regretted that on the one hand, the NC-Congress coalition is always found seeking mileage by denouncing the security forces while on the other hand, under the Security Related Expenditure on Police and Relief & Rehabilitation scheme introduced in the State after eruption of militancy in 1989, Government of India has reimbursed Rs 6575.26 crore to compensate J&K Government during the past 24 years.
Dr Jitendra Singh further said the scenario would have been different if the ruling party leadership had, instead of harping on symbolism like “autonomy”, “AFSPA”, etc, concentrated on progressive measures at the ground level.
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