KL Report
SRINAGAR
Criticizing what she called a deliberate delay, Mehbooba Mufti, president Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday said any decisions on creation of new administrative units in the state must be taken rationally and the same should not be guided by any political motivation.
Talking to KNS, Mehbooba said: “One fails to understand the logic behind this government’s halfhearted exercise on the new administrative units. As five and a half years of this government have already elapsed, one can ask why so much delay in implementation of the reports prepared by the two separate panels constituted on the subject. Holding meetings on new administrative units at the fag end of this government speaks volumes about the political motivations involved in the exercise.”
She said the meeting being held by the cabinet subcommittee at selective locations deflates the claims being made by the government that it wants to take the governance to the doorsteps of people. “For example, people of Kulgam have been asked to reach Anantnag district headquarters for the interactive sessions. Similarly people of Shopian has been asked to reach district Pulwama where the committee is scheduled to hold its meeting. What is this non sense? Do you want sufferings of people to lessen or you want to further add to their difficulties. Don’t this government consider Kulgam and Shopian as districts?” she asked.
She said to take a final decision on the matter the meetings should be held in respective district headquarters so that there is greater participation of people. “Holding of these meetings at selective locations is a well thought out conspiracy to ensure less participation of people which is highly condemnable,” Mehbooba observed.
She said the reports submitted by the two panels based on exhaustive discussions and consultations with the stake holders, irrespective of their party affiliations have been gathering dust all these years. “What was the logic in not implementing the recommendations given by the two panels in last five years and I think coming elections have awakened the government from its deep slumber,” she added.
The PDP patron said that the government constituted committees should go to district, tehsil and Nayabat level to reach out to people and get their feedback. “There is no fun of constituting these committees if they don’t meet people on ground and every district and get their first hand feedback,” Mehbooba stressed.
