Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 17: All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and MLA of Dooru, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, today criticized the Central Government for what he called the systematic neglect of Jammu and Kashmir since the region was downgraded to a Union Territory in 2019.
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Speaking to reporters during a visit to his constituency, Mir said the delay in restoring Statehood has deepened local crises, particularly in drinking water and irrigation. “There is a big difference between being a state and not being a state. From 2002 to 2014, we were able to address public grievances by pursuing them with departments and officers. But in the last 10-11 years, no progress has been made. What was there in 2014 is still there,” he said.
Commenting on the national political landscape, Mir backed the recent letter jointly sent by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior Rahul Gandhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding immediate restoration of statehood.
“Congress has been committed since August 5, 2019, when the decisions were taken in an undemocratic manner without consulting the people or their elected representatives,” Mir said.
He said the BJP’s own roadmap had promised restoration of statehood after delimitation and elections. “Now 10 months have passed since the elections. A council of Ministers and a Chief Minister have been formed. According to the PM’s own commitment, statehood should have been restored within 3 weeks. What calendar are they waiting for now?”
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