NC seeks comprehensive political engagement

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STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The Budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislature began on Tuesday on a stormy note as the Opposition staged a walkout during Governor N N Vohra’s address to the joint session to protest the alleged failure of the PDP-BJP government on all fronts particularly security.
As the Governor was about to begin his address in the Central hall, members of opposition Congress and NC stood up and raised slogans against the State government and placards listing “failures” of the government on security and Panchayati Raj fronts.
Senior National Conference MLA Mohammad Shafi Uri started reading out from a written memorandum listing charges against the government.
The Governor gave him a patient hearing and asked him to submit the memorandum so that he can begin his speech.
Though Shafi handed over the memorandum to the Governor, Opposition MLAs resorted to sloganeering when Vohra started his address.
After a brief pause, the Governor began his address amid high pitched protests, noisy scenes and thumping of desks in a bid to disrupt his speech, but he continued his address.
The ruckus continued for several minutes, and the National Conference and Congress legislators staged a walkout in the middle of the Governor’s address.
However, Independent MLA Engineer Rasheed Ahmed continued interrupting the Governor’ address with his protests and speaking on government’s failure to save innocent lives in Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters outside the house, Congress Legislative Party leader Rigzin Jora and NC MLA Alib Mohmmad Sagar said that government had “failed” on all fronts from security to governance front. “Security situation has deteriorated badly in Kashmir.
Highest number of security forces have been killed. But Government is saying that situation is moving towards peace and normalcy. Only yesterday, 5 CRPF men were killed in a suicide attack”, Jora said.
“There is no improvement in the security situation and the reality is that the situation is getting worse with each passing day since the PDP and BJP came together to form the government,” Jora charged.
He claimed the casualties suffered by security forces and civilians over the past three years had increased manifold.
He said bloodshed was continuing and “fatal casualty among security personnel had broken all records over the past decade”.
Border residents are facing the brunt of Pakistani shelling which has also gone up alarmingly, the former minister said.
“They used to taunt us for border skirmishes. Today the situation is that every now and then, the forces and civilians are suffering casualties and the problems of border residents have increased manifold,” he said.
Jora claimed the increase in violence is because “this coalition of ideologically different parties has not gone down well with the people of the state”.
NC MLA Ali Mohd Sagar said that party has submitted a memorandum to Governor on “total failure” of the government and its dismissal.
The NC expressed concern over the “worsening situation” and the continued political vacuum in the state which adversely affected the human rights situation, economy and growth.
It said the issue in Jammu and Kashmir is that of a “political nature” and deserves a sustained, holistic and comprehensive political engagement.
“There is a growing disillusionment in all regions of the state which is a matter of great concern. Therefore, we reiterate our stand seeking a meaningful and result-oriented political dialogue,” it said.
The NC expressed disappointment at the state government’s alleged failure to prevent the loss of civilian lives despite repeated assurances of restraint and accountability.
“Recent killings of two young mothers in Kashmir during counter-insurgency operations is one such glaring example. Not only has the state government failed to prevent atrocities, it has also failed to deliver justice in such cases,” it claimed.
The party claimed the state government had little to offer apart from “rhetoric”.
The NC expressed concern over the mass crackdowns and search operations where “entire villages were ransacked and civilians subjected to harassment and humiliation. These add to the alienation and anguish and need to be stopped”.
It claimed the tourism industry was in crisis due to the alleged failure of the state government to ensure peace and stability.
“The state government seems solely invested in working with a specific coterie of businessmen in the state…We demand immediate and effective steps to restore the industry without further delay,” it alleged.
The NC described unemployment and un-employability as “major challenges” before the state and claimed the government had failed on both counts which led to discontent among the youth which can have dangerous consequences.
It also highlighted issues of power crisis, unemployment and alleged misgovernance. The NC took a dig at the government for its alleged failed to ensure the availability of essential commodities and rations to the people.