Srinagar: Senior CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Friday criticized Home Minister’s remarks made during his virtual address to Kashmir Mahotsav organized by Indian Institute of Sustainability, Gujarat University.
The claim of Jammu and Kashmir being a model of democracy has been refuted by Tarigami while criticizing the government’s assertions that Panchayat elections were held in the region, stating that similar elections are being conducted in the rest of the country without depriving people of the right to elect their assemblies.
Tarigami also pointed out that Panchayat Raj Institutions cannot be a substitute for the assemblies, which are the only representative bodies empowered to legislate on public issues. He went on to say that the government has virtually demolished the crucial pillar of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir by not holding assembly elections, even after completing the delimitation process and revising electorates.
“The legislature remains the crucial pillar of democracy in federal structure, but unfortunately the GOI has virtually demolished this pillar in Jammu and Kashmir. Even after completing the so called de-limitation process and revision of electorates, the government has no temerity to hold the assembly elections.” he added.
“It is very unfortunate that the Home Minister has ignored the ballooning youth unemployment while beating trumpets about the start-up ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir. The growing unemployment has left thousands of educated youth distraught in this region.” Tarigami added.
“Additionally, if J&K’s post abrogation situation is presented by the government as a model of democracy then who stops them to replicate it in ‘Gujarat’ or other BJP ruled states ? The unemployment rate in this region has touched a staggering 21.8 percent, which is the highest in the entire country. There is nothing for the Central dispensation or Home Minister that needs to be shouted from the rooftops.” he concluded.
