“LG’s administration is not of the people”; says NC leader
BUNTY MAHAJAN
JAMMU, MARCH 12: Terming the present LG administration in Jammu and Kashmir as one “of Delhi” and “not of public”, the National Conference president and former Chuef Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah said that all the Opposition leaders from
the Union Territory will visit Delhi to seek support from the national leaders of various parties for restoration of J&K’s statehood.
This delegation will also meet the Election Commission to demand the conduct of early Assembly elections in J&K, he said after a three-hour-long meeting with Opposition parties at his residence in Jammu on Saturday.
“We will also be meeting the Election Commission for early holding of Assembly elections,’’ Abdullah said, pointing out that the Assembly polls have not been held in J&K since 2014 despite the fact that there has been a Supreme Court ruling that the polls must be held within six months of dismissal of an elected government.
Referring to the statements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the situation in J&K was “normal” and that a meeting of the G-20 nations will also be held in the Valley in May, Abdullah asked why elections could not held then given such a situation.
Referring to the bandh call given by the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry against IT administration’s decision to imposed property tax on people, he said that it speaks volumes about the situation here.
It is the prerogative of the legislative assembly to impose or not to impose any tax, the NC leader said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir was the first in the country to abolish Octroi during his tenure as Chief Minister. Now tax is being imposed on everything, he rrgretted.
He described LG’s administration “a temporary government’’. “It is not a people’s government, by a government by Delhi,’’ he said, adding the “people’s government is Assembly where members will decide what is right or what is wrong’’.
“They are the ones who have to face people again. Does LG has to face the people, or his officers have to face people,’’ he asked, adding “will they be staying here for 50-60 years’’. “It is the member of the Assembly who has to face the people and they will tear him apart as they watch him in every way and that is why we say restore the assembly. Let people decide whether tax is to be put or not to be put.’’ NC leader said, demanding restoration of statehood and early assembly election
CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami, J&K Congress president Vikar Rasool Wani, PDP leader Amrik Singh Reen, National Panthers Party leader Harsh Dev Singh, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader T S Tony, Dogra Sadar Sabha president Gulchain Singh Charak and Shiv Sena (UTB) leader Manish Sahni were among the leaders who reportedly attended the meeting held by Abdullah.