Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR Aug 28: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron and former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has said it was not possible to achieve developmental goals as long as the present system was not completely overhauled.
Addressing a public meeting at Budgam near here today he sought people’s cooperation in completely changing the system of governance that had been hijacked by the vested interests represented by the corrupt power elite and their cronies.
On the occasion senior party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig, Fomer Finance Minister Tariq Hameed Karra, Aga Syed Mehmood, District President Saifudin Bhat, Azad Ab Samad, Aga Bashir Ahmed, Aga Syed Yousuf, Gh Mohiudin, Gh Hassan Bhat, Abdul Samad and Haji Gh Hassan Sheikh were present and spoke on the occasion.
Mufti said people will could never be ignored or overruled in a democratic system. Neither New Delhi nor the State had any other options except giving democracy a full chance, he said regretting that there was never a matching response from either the establishment or the public opinion in the country to repeated assertion from the State of its faith in democratic values. He said PDP was now spearheading the movement for resolution, democracy and empowerment and it would take the mission to its logical conclusion with the overwhelming support of the people it is receiving in every area of the State.
He said while internally the delivery system, accountability and anti corruption measures have to be strengthened, “we have listed the issues that must be addressed by the Center to facilitate a new dignified and peaceful beginning in the State’’, he added.
Referring to the maladministration and corruption in the State, Mufti said the National Conference (NC) led coalition had landed the State in its worst crisis on political and economic fronts. The Ministers had declared independence in running their departments like personal fiefs and the Chief Minister had lost political and moral authority after his own involvement in the episode relating to Haji Yousuf’s death in suspicious circumstances. “Chief Minister can not question any Minister or official after the corruption in ruling family and the Party was exposed through Yousuf gate” he added.
He said similarly, the multi crore cricket scam in which the funds received for promotion of cricket were brazenly siphoned off has been hushed up to save the skin of the ruling party bigwigs and their cronies.
Mufti said power supply has hit the worst levels since 2002, before which also the NC Government had ensured that the State is starved of electricity. The power reforms initiated by the previous Government have been shelved and the Chief Minister is blaming the consumers and the department. It is the same people and same Department that turned things around in 2002.
He accused the Government of sheding crocodile tears now as the NC from Dr Farooq Abdullah to Omar Abdullah Governemnt has been responsible for handling over major projects to NHPC.
Pointing to the development freeze Mufti said development works under the State and Central sectors are victims of Government lethargy, corruption and favoritism. There is no development strategy for the Government and corruption is rampant as was pointed out even by the CAG.
Mufti said backdoor entries in Government jobs and extension to retired civil servants have become a norm again as a trademark of NC Government. Youth are harassed by the State within and outside J&K and doors for them are closed in the Government.
He said Panchayats have been reduced to a mere propaganda handle.
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