JAMMU: Former Minister and MLA Bandipora, Usman Majid, on Monday, Urged all political leaders set to be elected on Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir to unite in their efforts to restore statehood before moving forward with government formation.In a strong message to the political leaders, Majid emphasized that restoring statehood is essential to ensuring the empowerment of elected representatives and safeguarding the democratic process in the region.
Majid expressed concern over the current governance structure, saying that in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, all significant powers lie with the Lieutenant Governor and the bureaucracy. This has led to a sense of disempowerment among the people, as elected representatives are unable to effectively address their grievances."We must unite for the restoration of statehood because the people have expectations that their issues will be redressed and resolved. In the current Union Territory setup, elected members have very little authority, and most powers rest with the Lieutenant Governor and bureaucracy,"
Majid said.He added that the inability of elected MLAs in Union Territory set up to address the concerns of the people will lead to widespread frustration. "When MLAs and elected members can't resolve issues, people will lose faith in the democratic and electoral processes in Jammu and Kashmir," he warned.Majid cautioned that if the Union Territory set-up continues, it could lead to a scenario reminiscent of the 1987 political crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, where large segments of the population became alienated and lost faith in the electoral process. He noted that this disillusionment ultimately contributed to unrest and political instability.
"Without real authority for elected representatives, we risk repeating the situation of 1987, where people felt alienated and stayed away from the democratic setup. The disempowerment of MLAs will lead to a loss of faith in democratic institutions, which can have negative consequences for Jammu and Kashmir’s stability," he said.Majid emphasized that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have shown faith in the democratic and electoral setup, despite past challenges and rigging.
He stressed that it is now the responsibility of the political leadership to meet their expectations by ensuring that their issues are resolved."The people of Jammu and Kashmir have demonstrated their faith in democracy by participating in elections despite 1987 rigging. They now expect that their issues and problems will be addressed.
However, if they feel disempowered, dejected, and disenfranchised again, it will be a grave betrayal of their trust," Majid stated.Majid reiterated that the restoration of statehood is essential to empower elected representatives and provide them with the authority to address the issues of the people effectively. Without statehood, he warned, any government formation would be meaningless, and the people’s faith in democracy would erode further."To empower elected representatives and ensure that they can truly serve the people, statehood must be restored in Jammu and Kashmir. Without it, our Assembly will remain powerless, and the people will continue to suffer," he said.
Majid urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take concrete and immediate steps to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, citing the significant public participation and democratic mandate. He emphasized that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have made their voices heard, and it is now the responsibility of the Government of India to address their concerns and resolve the trust deficit.
