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Institutions bulldozed in J&K: Mufti

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 11/25/2013 11:36:24 AM

`NC undermined sanctity, Cong equally culpable’

JAMMU, Nov 24: Observing that social justice was possible only by strengthening democratic institutions, patron of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammed Sayeed Sunday regretted that present dispensation headed by National Conference (NC) brazenly trampled all institutions just to accomplish its nefarious designs.
In the same breath, Mufti took a dig at Congress, saying, “NC is notorious for undermining sanctity of democratic institutions in the state but it is very unfortunate that Congress, which is part of the present government, is also playing dubious role.” He said Congress was equally responsible for depriving people of Jammu and Kashmir of their legitimate democratic rights.
Mufti was addressing a function to welcome large number of activists from Other Backward Classes (OBCs) who joined PDP under the leadership of Madan Lal Chalotra here this afternoon.
“Meritorious and deserving people of the state are the worst victims due to erosion of the sanctity of institutions in Jammu and Kashmir,” Mufti said.
To substantiate his point, the PDP patron gave example of recent exposure of scam in the Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) which established sale of question papers of Common Entrance Test (CET).
How the poor, deserving and meritorious students would get justice when sanctity of institutions like BOPEE was also eroded and illegal means were adopted to accommodate undeserving candidates, he asked and expressed surprise that a person, who was reportedly to be main accused in this scam, had been given extension after extension by the present regime.
Mufti stated that during the last five years all institutions had been systematically bulldozed by the present regime just to fulfill its own evil designs.
“Who are the victims of systematically erosion of sanctity of institutions?,” he asked and added that poor and deserving people were bearing brunt of the misdeeds and corrupt practices being adopted by the present government. He added that Congress party was equally responsible for depriving people of Jammu and Kashmir of their legitimate democratic rights.
He mentioned failure of the government to take some concrete steps for strengthening of Panchayati Raj institutions or holding civic bodies’ elections in the state. Referring to repeated statements being given by the Congress leaders especially AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi on 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments in public, Mufti said the failure of the government to strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions in the state was a clear indication that Congress leaders were giving statements only for public consumption but internally they were also not serious in strengthening democracy at grass root level.
“Had Congress leaders been serious in strengthening Panchayats, the party ministers should have effectively taken up this issue in the government as well as in the Coordination Committee,” he observed. “More than two and half years have passed after completion of the Panchayat elections but till date government has failed to hold Block Development Councils’ (BDCs’) elections despite the fact that notifications were earlier issued in this regard,” he regretted, adding, “It is nothing but a mockery of the democracy and blatant dishonour of the mandate of the people by those who are at the helm of the affairs.”
Reiterating resolve of his party to work for the socio-economic growth of weaker sections, Mufti said that empowerment and upliftment of marginalized lot of the society was main agenda of the party. He reminded his association with former Prime Minister V P Singh, who, he said, was crusader for the social justice and had sacrificed power for the weaker sections.
Mufti emphasised on formulating policies which would help in inclusive growth and emancipation of suppressed and neglected lot of the society. He argued that socio-economic growth of the OBCs and other weaker sections was imperative for the over-all development of the society.
“Benefit of the developmental policies and other welfare schemes must reach to neglected lot of the society,” he said.
“There is a need to formulate a comprehensive policy especially to target these sections for inclusive development in the society,” he said and assured the gathering that PDP was committed for socio-economic growth of the neglected lot of the society. “Programmes and policies of PDP are formulated by incorporating wishes and aspirations of all sections of the society,” he said and reminded the gathering that during PDP led regime various programmes were launched for the upliftment of weaker sections of society. Rangil Singh, Yashpal Sharma MLC, Ved Mahajan, Daman Bhasin, Shanti Devi, Hussain Ali Bafa, Rashid Malik, Deepinder Kour, Ashok Jogi, chairman OBCs/SC cell, Thakur Suram Singh, Bhushan Dogra, Amreek Singh Reen, Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Rashpal Singh Bittu, Haji S Mohammed, Kuldeep Sharma, Mohinder Kotwal, Rafiq Malik, Rajinder Dharmat, Rajinder Singh, Jatinder Bhat, Sunil Bhat, Varinder Singh Sonu, Kamal Sharma, Ravi Salgotra, Anju Bhan, Digvijay Singh, H S Sodhi, Dr Harmesh Singh Slathia, Vikram Singh, Vikram, Showkat, Saleem Choudhary, Lal Chand, Badri Nath, Sunil, Vijay Anand besides others also spoke on the occasion.
Prominent among others who joined PDP along with Madan Lal Chalotra included Tilak Raj, Vikas Chalotra, Dev Raj Bhatti, Varinder Chalotra, Sham Lal Gandhi, Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Kuldeep Raj, Ram Lal and Sanjeev Verma.