Srinagar Dec 08 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal on Thursday said the restoration of popular elected government in J&K has become unavoidable as people are now fed-up with the bureaucratic setup. 

While addressing party functionaries here at the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar, Kamaal said,“Any further delay in giving power back to the people of J&K will only deepen the problems faced by the beleaguered region. While people are exercising their right to vote to elect their representative government, it is appalling to see the same right is being denied to J&K. The incumbent government is completely indifferent towards the restoration of democracy in J&K where people have been suffering from dictatorial, proxy rule of BJP and the outsourced administration for the last over four years.”

Expressing concern over the curbs on freedom of expression, Kamal said, "The downright labelling of dissent as anti-national or anti-democratic strikes at the heart of our commitment to protect constitutional values and the promotion of argumentative democracy. The ability of journalists to report freely on matters of public interest is  crucial for democracy. The outcome of curbing one of the pillars of democracy will have harmful outcomes. This has to end.”

 
Meanwhile, noted social activist from Hazratbal constituency joined the party fold at the party headquarters Nawa-e-Subha, Srinagar.  On the occasion Party Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, State women's wing President Shameema Firdous and Provincial Women's wing President Er. Sabiya Qadri felicitated the new entrants, hoping that the party will benefit from her wide ranging experience in public life and social activism. (KNS)