Excelsior Correspondent
SUCHETGARH, July 30: District Development Council (DDC) Suchetgarh and senior Congress leader Taranjit Singh Tony today demanded immediate restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing during a meeting at Sai village of Suchetgarh, Tony said the time has come for a “full and immediate reinstatement of Statehood” to ensure accountability, transparency and smoother governance.
He said, “the current system, where the Lieutenant Governor holds both executive and legislative control, is undemocratic and unsustainable. The Lieutenant Governor should not be holding any charge of any portfolio. It is the elected Government that should be making decisions regarding transfers, postings, development priorities and employment generation.”
Tony also criticized the current business rules and administrative setup, calling it “deeply flawed and confusing.”
“Government officers are constantly in a dilemma about whom to obey and what policies to implement. Officials often excuse inaction by claiming they don’t know whether to follow the LG office or central instructions. This has led to total paralysis in governance,” he said.
Tony emphasized that projects related to public welfare, infrastructure and job creation have been stalled or slowed down because of bureaucratic bottlenecks.
“Even as PM Narendra Modi had promised the return of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, that promise remains unfulfilled. We urge the Central Government to take action now. The Monsoon Session of Parliament presents the right time and platform to pass a bill restoring Statehood,” he said.
Calling it a “clear case of injustice,” Tony said the Union Territory status has weakened local institutions and emboldened bureaucrats, who are now reluctant to let go of the power they have enjoyed.
“The time to restore Statehood is now. The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve dignity, accountability and good governance. That is only possible when they have their own elected Government making decisions on their behalf,” he added.
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