Dr Manohar flags water crisis, questions BJP’s ‘false narrative’ on women reservation

• Highlights year-long water shortage, slow relief for flood victims

BILLAWAR: Senior Congress leader and former Minister Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma, during his extensive tour of Billawar and Ramkote tehsils, raised pressing civic concerns and sharply criticized the BJP-led government for what he termed as governance failures and misleading narratives. Visiting villages including Thanthu, Barota, Ghar, Tarkar, and SC Mohalla Kough, Dr. Sharma interacted with residents and took stock of their long-pending grievances.

One of the most serious issues highlighted during the visit was the prolonged drinking water crisis in Moda Ghar of village Kough. Dr. Sharma stated that it has been more than a year since residents have been facing an acute shortage of water supply. “Despite repeated appeals and representations, the authorities have failed to restore a regular water supply. People, especially women and elderly residents, are forced to walk long distances daily to fetch water, which is unacceptable in this day and age,” he said. He added that such neglect reflects a complete breakdown of basic service delivery and insensitivity towards rural hardships.

The former Minister also pointed out that the incomplete link road from Thakur Dwara to Ghar village continues to inconvenience the local population, affecting mobility, access to healthcare, and economic activities. He urged the administration to expedite the completion of the road and address infrastructure gaps on priority.

Referring to the damage caused by recent heavy rains and flash floods, Dr. Sharma expressed concern over the delay in compensation to affected families. He said many households whose homes were damaged are still awaiting relief, forcing them to live in distress. “Timely compensation is not a favour but a responsibility of the government. The delay is adding to the suffering of already distressed families,” he remarked.

Launching a strong attack on the BJP, Dr. Sharma termed its claims on women’s reservation and empowerment as a “false narrative.” He said that while the government projects itself as a champion of women’s rights, the situation on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir tells a different story. “Women in rural areas are still struggling for basic amenities like water, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities. If empowerment is real, why are women still bearing the burden of failed governance?” he questioned.

He further stated that genuine empowerment cannot be achieved through announcements alone, but requires consistent policy implementation, economic support, and improved living conditions. He emphasized that women in J&K UT continue to face challenges such as unemployment, lack of access to quality education, and inadequate healthcare, which remain largely unaddressed.

Dr. Sharma also raised broader concerns about rising unemployment among youth, inflation, and ineffective implementation of welfare schemes. He said that people across the region are facing increasing hardship, while the government continues to focus on publicity rather than addressing real issues.

Reaffirming his commitment to public welfare, Dr. Sharma assured residents that their grievances would be raised at appropriate platforms. He called for immediate corrective measures, emphasizing that governance must be people-centric, responsive, and grounded in reality rather than rhetoric.The visit concluded with Dr. Sharma urging the administration to act swiftly on basic issues like water supply, infrastructure development, and disaster relief, stating that restoring public trust requires visible action and accountability.