Centre should resume political process, say former legislators

Jammu, March 13

Terming the situation in J&K as chaotic, a group of former legislators belonging to different political parties today held a meeting and demanded early resumption of a democratic political process here.

The legislators included former ministers, MLAs and MLCs affiliated with National Conference, PDP and Congress. They expressed concern over “rampant corruption” in some of the government offices and sought intervention of Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha in checking the system.

Issuing a statement after the meeting held under the leadership of former National Conference MLA Qazi Jalal-ud-Din, the participants said the former legislators and political workers had a constructive role in steering the erstwhile state out of the current “political impasse”. “We cannot be mute spectators to the current situation. Instead, we will be reaching out to the masses and administration in an attempt to bridge the gap between the government and the people,” the statement issued under the banner of the ex-legislators council said.

It said the council discussed the current political, social and economic situation prevailing in J&K and was of the opinion that the current impasse on the restoration of a political process has only added to the miseries of the general masses. It sought intervention of the Lt Governor to impress upon the Union government for resumption of political process, the statement said.

The meeting was attended by former ministers Ram Paul, Jagjivan Lal and Haji Nissar, former MLA Gul Rafiquee and ex-MLCs Kashmira Singh, Brij Mohan Sharma, B L Bhat, Depinder Kour, Iqbal Butt and Firdous Tak. — PTI

‘Problem for public’

• A statement issued by ex-legislators reads, “In the absence of a public representative government, the masses are facing several problems.”
• “Programmes, policies are being made in cozy official spaces of the civil secretariat. There is a gap between the administration and the people,” they say.
• Leaders hold meeting under headship of NC ex-MLA Qazi Jalal-ud-Din