NC exposes failure of LG Admin in utilisation of development funds: Rattan Lal Gupta

• India’s eminent personalities have written a letter to Chief Justice of India for seeking early restoration of Statehood to J&K

JAMMU: Advocate Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, has raised serious concern over the failure of the LG administration in utilising funds meant for the development as well as the construction of underground bunkers in border areas, as revealed through a recent RTI. He shocked over utilization of only 53% of the central funds allocated over the past five years have been spent under the LG led administration, which is a matter of serious concern considering the grave threat to civilians during frequent cross-border shelling incidents.

In a press release issued here today, the senior NC leader said the negligence of the administration has once again exposed its disconnect from ground realities. “Despite receiving generous financial support from the Centre, the LG-led dispensation has failed to implement even the most critical safety measures for border residents. This is not just a case of financial mismanagement but also of criminal neglect towards the lives of people living along the International Border and LoC,” he said.

Taking a strong dig at the LG administration, Rattan Lal said that no real development has taken place in the last 10 years under the BJP regime in J&K as most of the funds under vital social welfare schemes have either lapsed or remained unutilised. “From rural development to youth welfare, from health to infrastructure — every sector has been ignored. The administration has mastered the art of photo-ops and announcements, but the people on the ground continue to suffer,” he added.

The Senior NC leader further pointed out that even after the formation of the popular government led by Omar Abdullah, the LG administration is acting as a parallel power centre and deliberately creating hurdles in the smooth functioning of the elected government. “This is unacceptable in a democratic setup. If the Centre claims to have restored normalcy, then it must also allow the elected representatives to function without any interference,” he said.

Rattan Lal Gupta reiterated the urgent need for restoring full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that statehood is a constitutional right of the people and must not be delayed any further. “The time has come to return the stolen democratic rights to the people of J&K,” he stated.

The senior NC leader also referred to the open letter sent to the Chief Justice of India, Justice B R Gavai, by a group of five eminent citizens, expressing concern over the continued denial of statehood to J&K. The signatories — former Union Home Secretary Gopal Pillai, Major General (Retd.) Ashok K. Mehta, Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Kapil Kak, Prof. Radha Kumar (former J&K interlocutor), and ex-Union Secretary Amitabha Pande — have urged the apex court to set up a constitutional  bench that would hear petitions on the unconstituonalities of the removable of Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood.  

Rattan Lal Gupta said this petition reflects the sentiment of every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir and demanded that the Centre must act without delay and restore statehood to allow the Omar Abdullah-led government to function fairly, freely, and effectively.