Insensitivity hurts religious sentiments: Raman Suri condemns NC govt for power cuts on first Navratri

JAMMU: Senior BJP leader Raman Suri has strongly condemned the National Conference (NC) led Jammu Kashmir government for its failure to ensure regular and uninterrupted electricity supply to several dozen residential colonies on the first day of Navratri, a festival that holds deep religious and emotional significance for millions of devotees. He said that depriving people of electricity on the very first day of this sacred festival, when families observe fasts, perform morning prayers and begin their religious rituals with devotion, reflects a serious lack of planning, sensitivity and administrative accountability.

Suri said the first day of Navratri is not an ordinary day for devotees. It marks the beginning of nine days of prayer, fasting, worship and spiritual observance, with many households performing special puja in the early morning hours. Electricity is essential for families preparing for rituals, lighting their homes and places of worship, and carrying out their daily religious activities. He said that power cuts at such a time cause unnecessary hardship to people and deeply hurt their sentiments, particularly when the administration should have been extra vigilant in ensuring essential services during the festival.

Condemning the Jammu Kashmir government, Suri said it was unfortunate that the Chief Minister and the departments concerned appeared to have failed to anticipate the basic needs of the public on an occasion whose dates are known well in advance. He questioned why adequate arrangements were not made to maintain electricity supply in residential areas during the festival and why repair and maintenance work, wherever necessary, was not planned in a manner that minimised inconvenience to consumers.

He said the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (JKPDCL) and the officials responsible for distribution should have understood the importance of timing their repair work appropriately. Maintenance is necessary, but it must be planned with foresight, particularly during major religious festivals. If repairs were unavoidable, the department should have scheduled them before the commencement of Navratri, arranged alternative measures wherever feasible, and issued timely advisories to residents. The very purpose of public utilities is to serve people, and their planning must reflect the needs, sentiments and convenience of the public.

Suri said that allowing several dozen colonies to face power disruption on the opening day of Navratri raises serious questions about coordination between the administration, the power department and the political leadership. He said that the government cannot remain indifferent to the difficulties of ordinary families and then expect people to accept avoidable disruptions as routine administrative shortcomings. When a festival of such religious importance arrives, the government and its departments must demonstrate preparedness, responsibility and respect for public sentiment.

He further said that the NC-led government must understand that governance is not merely about making announcements but about ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of essential services, especially when citizens need them the most. Electricity supply, water availability, sanitation and other basic services require special monitoring during festivals. The failure to ensure reliable power on the first morning of Navratri, he said, has exposed the absence of adequate planning and a lack of sensitivity towards the people.

Reiterating his condemnation, Suri said the government must stop treating power disruptions during important public and religious occasions as a routine matter. He called for immediate corrective action, accountability for the lapse and better advance planning for all remaining festival days, so that people can observe Navratri peacefully and with the dignity and devotion the occasion deserves.