Shiv Kumar Padha Basohli
Adab Apa,
‘Zamana Badi Gour Se Sun Raha Tha Dastan Apni, Hameen So Gaye Dastan Kehte Kehte’, before sharing few words with the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir I take it my moral duty to pay floral tributes to the late Jenab Mufti Mohamad Sahib, ex. Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, and pray to God to rest his noble soul in peace in heaven. Being a novice in writing skill I don’t find appropriate words to define the multi dimensional personality of Mufti Sahib in the real sense. Mufti Sahib was an embodiment of democratic, secular and human values and a true nationalist, patriot and a committed soldier to the back who spared no efforts in safeguarding India’s integrity, solidarity and sovereignty at national an international forums. It was his impartial and unbiased behaviour, his modesty and far-sightedness which helped carve out apex position for him in the corridors of power both at State and national level. The cruel hands of death snatched from us a philanthropist, a bold voice of the State and a true visionary which has created a void difficult to bridge easily in the coming times. Being a philanthropist, lover of mankind he meted out equal treatment to all irrespective of region, religion or other consideration. The people of Basohli Constituency in general and that of the town in particular are indebted for the love, affection and the favours he showered to them. Mufti Sahib is the only Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir who paid six consecutive visits to Basohli during a shortest tenure of six months. Perhaps it was a result of his love for Basohli from his heart of heart that he adapted Higher Secondary School Basohli and upgraded it into a Model Hr. Sec. School, sanctioned a B.Sc. Nursing College at Basohli, issued orders and direction to make Basohli a tourist hub in the State, constituted Basohli Development Authority for the speedy development of tourism in the picturesque town of Basohli. Meeting the sports needs of the talented youth of Basohli Sub Division he sanctioned one national level stadium for Basohli.
After the sad demise of Mufti Sahib, the Jammu and Kashmir State got first women Chief Minister in you , a woman of an extraordinary stature, the fearless daughter of the land and a seasoned and renowned national politician. It was only due to your might and mettle that you could stand and brave the turbulent environment you had to face just after your coronation as CM of the State. The NDA Government didn’t have any other option except handing over the reins of the State in your safe hands. Madam, It is a convention rather custom of the democratic governments that, the decisions, sanctions, developmental works in hand, sanctioned schemes and the welfare projects are not affected with the change of the Chief Minister or minister of any department. The new incumbents of the same government have got no moral right to take U turn, and go back from the promises and decisions taken by their predecessors.
Madam it has been observed that some of the new incumbents of the alliance have almost taken U turn so far as the implementation of some developmental projects and the schemes initiated by late Mufti Sahib. The natives of Basohli Constituency and that of the town are suffering miserably due to the cool, careless and non responsive behavior of our MLAs and ministers irrespective of the party they belong to. People of Jammu region feel that the bread of the Basohli people is buttered from both sides only because there is one cabinet and the other Dy. Chief Minister in the PDP and BJP alliance government from the same constituency. But as it is said ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’. In spite of all this Basohli is the worst sufferer in the Coalition Government. We don’t know much about the attitude of our PDP MLAs and ministers, but their counterparts from the BJP have totally boycotted their relations with the voters from the day they were elected and sent to the Assembly. Not to talk of the rapport with the masses they don’t even listen to the telephone calls, nor meet with common man. They have maintained a distance from the poor man and their own party workers. No body knows about the whereabouts of their legislators because they prefer the company of the sycophants, touts and the power brokers. No minister of any department has ever paid even a single visit to Basohli, or held any public Durbar since the formation of the Coalition Government in the State to listen the grievances of the public. Our MLAs and ministers consider themselves not less than a monarch of a principality.
Before and after the election to Parliament and State Legislative Assembly our present MPs and MLAs made tall claims and vociferously promised to;
Declare Basohli as an heritage town
Sanction regional NERT resource cente, start FM radio channel, survey of railway line to Basohli, Pashmina shawl industry, Pashmina emporium and national level sports stadium at Basohli.
Boosting tourism at Basohli by starting water sports and games, boat riding’s boat races, floating restaurants in the RSD, introducing para sailing sport, and cruise service of the type of one in the river Thames in London.
Making Essel type water world at Bsohli and making Basohli like Disney Land.
For sanctioned one college for B.Sc. Nursing courses at Basohli, the nusrsing college building and the infrastructure stands completed since long without admissions.
The nursing college, it seems, has also fallen prey to the inter MLA, inter political and inter constituency rivalry which is a direct loss to the Basohli Constituency. It is beyond comprehension of a common man as how the projects initiated by Mufti Sahib during his life time can be abandoned and changed easily. Madam, not to talk about the fulfillment of the election promises, Basohli is reeling under miserable conditions only due to the neglect of the ministers irrespective of the party they belong.
Though the Basohli CHC has been designated to model hospital, there is neither minimum strength of doctors nor nursing staff in the hospital. There is acute shortage of medicines and other allied clinical items in the hospital. The patients have to purchase every item of their need, except bed, from the market. The sanitation of the hospital is pitiable. No emergency like section is in operation in the hospital because there is not even a single oxygen cylinder (as reported) available for the serious patients. The wounded, the delivery, and the patients with minor ailments are reffered to District or GMC Jammu where majority of them succumb due to the excessive bleeding during shifting.. The water supply is in shambles. There is hardly five minutes one time water supply in the town. The water supplied is too muddy even to be used for irrigation purpose. The PDS consumers have not received their ration for the last eight months. No body knows about the criteria fixed for the different income slabs of the consumers. Every consumer is compelled to guess. The inauguration of the Atal Setu over RSD at Basohli has thrown open the flood gates for the tourists. Hundereds of tourists visit Basohli but return disappointed when they find nothing what has been claimed vociferously during the election times. There is no connectivity provided to Atal Setu as a result it is not put to use it is meant for and is a great set back to the State exchequer.
It is therefore humbly prayed to direct your team of ministers to visit as much constituencies as they can in order to take stock of the problems being faced by the masses. It is observed that some diehard and high headed MLAs do not tolerate the entry of any third person (minister) in their constituencies even if their problems remain unsolved.
Madam though Basohli has given two ministers to the State Assembly but as the ill luck would have it nothing solid has been started at the ground level till date. Please help expedite the work on tourism, make the nursing college operational, improve the condition of the Model Hospital Basohli, tighten the noose around the erring officers of PHE and PDS department who sell truck loads of ration and kersene oil in the black market. The whole Basohli Constituency will feel indebited for the boons granted by Mufti Sahib in his life and your noble person throughout life.
