Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Apr, 13
“With the political leadership having been discredited and rendered irrelevant in the new set up in J&K, the common man was made to bear the brunt of dictatorial policies of the current regime. The policy makers having hardly any connect with the general masses, the sufferings of the people had touched a new high under the present dispensation with no takers for the shrill cries of the public clamouring for restoration of civic amenities during the times of soaring temperatures. Their woes stood multiplied by the fast spreading corona pandemic besides raging inflationary pressures”. This was stated by Mr. Harsh Dev Singh Chairman-JKNPP and former Minister while addressing public meetings in Baska-dera and Bari villages of Ramnagar constituency today.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Harsh Dev lambasted the concerned authorities for acute water supply problem in majority of the villages of Ramnagar constituency besides huge power cuts causing untold inconvenience to the public. “While the PHE Deptt now renamed as ‘Jal Shakti’ Deptt had covered all such villages under Water Supply Schemes (WSS) in papers and its official records, the ground reality was in complete contrast of the govt claims.
It was shocking that the concerned authorities had shown around Rs. 60 crore having been spent during the last five years on drinking water supply schemes in Ramnagar constituency without showing any tangible output on the ground. The funds meant for water supply had been brazenly looted with none to take cognizance in view of a powerful officer-politician nexus patronizing the corrupt elements. The working of Rural Dev Deptt was equally pathetic with repeated complaints of siphoning of public funds failing to elicit any response from concerned quarters. And the people continued to be suppressed through strong arm methods, alleged Mr. Singh.
Making out a strong case in favour of the local farmers whose lands were acquired for PMGSY roads, Mr. Singh sought early payment of compensation. He regretted that despite a lapse of 4-6 years, the claims of the affected farmers had not been settled with the officers concerned in-explicably sitting over the funds so released by the centre at the time of sanction and delaying and denying the same with ulterior motives. Likewise several irregularities had been reported in the preparation of lists of BPL and APL lists but regretfully of no avail, lamented Mr. Singh.
Accusing the present regime of restoring to coercion and intimidation to silence those questioning the criminal negligence of concerned authorities, Mr. Singh said that common people were not even allowed to exercise their fundamental rights of protests and dharnas. He regretted that several FIRs had been registered against local people of Ramnagar constituency for protesting on roads in support of their demands for regular water and power supply. “There is none to listen. Those raising their voice against corruption well bullied and made to fall in line”, bemoaned Mr. Singh. He pointed out that regular bills were being sent to several people for payment of power traffic without they having been provided power connections by the PDD Deptt. “Strange but true. And still the govt was claiming of having brought transparency and good governance .
It was a classic case of Inspector Raj prevailing in J&K which had caused massive public disenchantment particularly in the rural areas”, said Mr. Singh adding that Panthers Party shall continue to rake up the issues of the aggrieved masses and fight for their resolution. He appealed the people to strengthen NPP as it alone represented the working class, the farmers the unemployed youth besides other marginalized sections of society.
