AARYAN SHARMA
JAMMU: Ever since BJP-PDP government took shape, first under the leadership of Mufti Mohd Sayeed and later Mehbooba Mufti, the culture of running summer and winter secretariats in both the capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu was discontinued.
Several representations were made and the issue was taken up before the senior cabinet ministers but instead of listening to the grievances of the people and paying attention towards their resolution the entire government machinery failed to take note of the genuine demand of the common masses on both sides of the Jawahar tunnel.
At present the State is once again in the grip of major crisis and the seat of power remains out of bounds for common people due to prevailing law and order situation emerging in the wake of killing of Hizb Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani.
In the absence of the smooth functioning of the Civil Secretariat complex, thousands of people, who visit the seat of power have to stay away and suffer in isolation as the entire government machinery is in standby mode and virtually crawling on ground zero to find a foot hold.
At the same time people living across peaceful districts of the State are suffering at the behest of a section of people raising banter of revolt against the State Government and the Centre to help separatists spread canard and malicious campaign.
Barring office of Chief Minister and few senior bureaucrats, even the State Government is struggling to make its seat of power operational in the absence of employees. Under the circumstances, the State Government should at least explore the option of reopening the Summer Secretariat in Jammu and direct the senior ministers to remain present there so that the common masses can approach them and routine government work affected due to turmoil in Kashmir valley can be restarted. Ever since the law and order situation deteriorated in different parts of Kashmir ,the BJP ministers came under the scanner for staying away from Srinagar. At the same time they failed to make their presence felt even in Jammu region and catered to their own assembly constituencies during the period annoying large section of people.
