KL Report

Srinagar

Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Saturday accused that the state has completely fallen into the strangle hold of vested interest that is engaged in brazen loot of public exchequer and national wealth.

 Addressing a workers convention in Khansahib constituency in Budgam district party chief Petron Mufti Mohammad Syeed said  the situation cannot be retrieved under the present dispensation as it has deliberately subverted institutions of vigilance, transparency and probity.

“PDP would launch a war against corruption in public life and start with enforcing accountability in high places when ever it got a chance with the  support of the people,” Mufti said and added “it was to cover up the loot and brazen corruption indulged in by its members that the present government had subverted the institutions like State Accountability commission (SAC) , State vigilance commission (SVC), State Information Commission (SIC) and the vigilance department and there was a free for all in selling everything that had anything to do with the government”.

“Jobs, tenders, money from treasuries, postings and transfers, certificates and mandates, everything is on sale” he accused.

Mufti said the state accountability commission had been envisaged to be the equivalent of the Lokpal that rest of the country was still making an effort to constitute.

“ But in absence of an independent investigation arm and ability of the government to provide support to it the institution has lost its relevance with action on  most of the cases taken up by it halted through judicial intervention over technical niceties,” He said

Mufti added “It is sad that instead of offering himself for probe the chief minister had led the process of trivialization of SAC by going to court challenging its jurisdiction. His colleagues have taken the same route to escape law”.

Mufti said the state would have been one of the most developed parts of the country if corruption had not been promoted here almost as a state policy.

“It was a cause of concern that while in rest of the country a strong movement has been launched against this menace, in jammu & Kashmir the people seemed to be by and large unconcerned by it even though it is not someone else’s  money that is being pocketed by the unscrupulous elements in the administration but the money that is to be used for building infrastructure, roads, hospitals, schools and providing help to the needy and the poor,” he said.

He said that people must understand the value of electing the right persons who they feel can deliver good governance without indulging in bad practices.

“The present government has created a corruption friendly eco system and through its brazen actions it has left no one in doubt about its intentions,” he added “ it is clear that in absence of a common program for governance the coalition led by national conference has become a coalition of corruption and loot while the common people suffered complete neglect”.

“The latest instance of the coalition coordination about a house committee and the way it is sought to be subverted is enough evidence that this government can stoop to any level to prevent law from taking its course”.

The PDP patron said the present government has neither the will nor the moral strength to fight corruption as its leading lights are facing serious charges like the mysterious death of Haji Yusuf and the cricket association scandal involving crores of rupees.

“It unfortunate that the institutions of the state have been converted into hand maidens of ruling politicians which have eroded people’s faith in them,” he said adding “Some people have been treated as the holy cows whose misdemeanor never came in for an audit as a result of which entire democratic system has suffered in the state”.

Expressing concern on account of problems like power and cooking gas Mufti said it was a direct result of the inefficiency and political compromises made by the National Conference on the state’s resources.

“Given the miseries faced by people of J&K, it would easily qualify for the most misgoverned state of the country. Nowhere in the country would one have to stay in queue for commodities like gas and kerosene” he said and added that a decent living is a fundamental right of the people which has been denied to them in this state.

He accused the government of treating people as cattle and this insult and humiliation of human beings was something unacceptable to PDP and is therefore seeking a total change in system.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here