Srinagar Oct 26: Conveying her deep anguish to the Governor NN Vohra over the collapsing governance and rampant corruption in the state Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti told him about the dangers and pitfalls that could reverse completely the gains of previous years. She had called on the governor yesterday at the Raj Bhavan to greet him and Mrs Vohra on the eve of Diwali. The two met for over an hour and held detailed discussions on the state of affairs in J&K.
The leader of the opposition told the governor how recent events involving the death of an NC worker and exposure of corruption in the Abdullah family had climaxed a three year ordeal of the people suffering excesses without achieving a redressal to their problems. “These events had seriously dented people’s faith in governance and institutional accountability as the government had brazenly covered up an incident that in any other part of the country would have evoked a completely different response from state” she told the governor pointing out how this attitude made the people of the state feel different, discriminated and lead to their alienation.
Mehbooba told Vohra Omar Abdullah’s unending fight for survival had lead him from one blunder to another and had to compromise his way to stay in power. Not only had this resulted in his government’s total disconnect with the people but the uncertainty had also caused a leadership crisis in the government. “Ministers and officials were groping in the dark for want of a political direction and with zero accountability the unscrupulous among them were making hay while the sun shone and amassed wealth by whatever way they could” Mehbooba said. She added that with the exposure of Omar and Dr Farooq Abdullah’s direct involvement in political pay offs the NC leadership had lost any moral authority to enforce accountability and this had resulted in an unprecedented administrative chaos development freeze and free for all situation in the state.
Referring to the collapse of institutions under the NC lead coalition Mehbooba recalled how the ruling alliance had indulged in subversion of the legislature by arranging cross voting of BJP MLAs for a mere Council seat. She told the governor that the ruling party had not just undermined the stature of the legislature but had constantly tried to muzzle dissent in and out of it. She said the Panchayat elections could have been a game changer in the state only if the government had honestly empowered these institutions and established all the three tiers of the system. Similarly, she pointed out the failure of the government in conducting polls to urban civic bodies even in the second year after they were due. The Vigilance system too was in a total paralysis as the proposed new commission was a non starter with the result that even the existing vigilance organisation had become defunct, Mehbooba told the governor.
On the current debate over the revocation of AFSPA Mehbooba reiterated the principal stand of her party and called for phased withdrawal of troops from civilian duties and areas and also the removal of special powers. She said the state government must withdraw the Disturbed Areas Act (DAA) to facilitate a complete revival of civil and democratic institutions in the state as in other parts of the country.
The PDP president told the Governor how all institutions handled by Abdullahs had come in for adverse notice on account of corruption and cited the reports about the Cricket Council funds and the resentment in Wakf Board which had again been made a handmaiden of the NC and its favourites. She drew his attention to the huge withdrawals from the Cricket Council headed in the state by Dr Abdullah through self drawn cheques and said this had come at a time when the youth needed all support to pursue their passion for sports. Similarly The Wakf Board had rolled back welfare measures after the present government stuffed it with NC politicians, favourites and retired officials with doubtful integrity. The government and the Board had failed to resolve the registration issue of the pass outs of the Bibi Haleema nursing college, the only one of its nature in the state started by the Board in 2005. Requesting the governor to intervene in persuading the government to issue an ordinance to set up state nursing council, Mehbooba told him the government had assured the legislature to do so in the last session when the PDP had brought in a Bill on the subject but had failed to do so.
Mehbooba also brought up the issue of the discontinuation of volunteers in different services by the state government and urged him to intervene in the matter to save their livelihood. The volunteers were appointed by the state government in different departments.
Mehbooba informed the governor about continued harassment of youth and inability of the government to withdraw FIRs against most of them which were registered on most flimsy grounds. These youth are facing bleak career prospects for mere protest against killing of their friends and relatives while not even an FIR was accepted from the family of Haji Yusuf who have openly alleged foul play in his killing and accused high and mighty including the CM. She said this policy of dual standards could not be hidden from people who in the process become more and more disillusioned.
Referring to the implementation of centrally sponsored schemes Mehbooba told the governor how all the major initiative had failed make an impact as a result of governance failure. She said the special programs like PMs Package and ADB funded projects had failed to keep desired pace and some important features were almost shelved under present government. The state component for the centrally sponsored schemes was squandered away through ruling party touts and in most cases had resulted in suspension of disbursements from centre, she said.
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