Srinagar, Oct 20 (KNS): Senior Congress leader and former member of Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday said in a democracy bureaucrats are meant for official works instead of running a democratic system and stated that statehood should be restored immediately, while elections should also be held as soon as possible.
As per Kashmir News Service (KNS) correspondent, talking to reporters at his Srinagar residence after a two-day visit to the Kashmir Valley, he said that nobody is against the Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha. “Restore statehood and let him be the governor of the state as well. In a democracy, you cannot have the rule of officers. In Raj Bhavan governor may be there with all the good intentions but ultimately a popular government is required for the people who can better understand the aspirations and issues of common people.”
Azad said that the development works which are required in the Valley would be best served by elected representatives of the people. “Solution to the problems of the people can be solved by elected representatives and not by officers and bureaucrats.”
He also said that during his visit he met leaders and party workers of nine districts of the Valley. “I met hundreds of people here and around 60-70 delegations. It was an eye opener as I met a lot of people and came to know about their difficulties and aspirations.”
Talking about the recent civilian killings, he said that everyone he met condemned these brutal killings. “Be it a Muslim, Hindu, Sikhs or Kashmiri pandits, the people of the Valley are more concerned about the kiliings than rest of the country as fear has gripped the people that a backlash will be in Srinagar and not elsewhere in the country.”
He said that he feels that the entire Valley is unanimously against these targeted killings and ofcourse people of the Valley have never supported militancy as this has pushed the the Valley into economic disruptions and backwardness.
Replying to a question about laying of foundation stones of new projects and development works in the Valley, he said that putting a foundation stone at a green field will never take off. “The administration should instead of laying new foundation stones first create a mechanism to increase the local resources so that development works will be beneficial to the local populace.”
Notably, Azad was on a two-day visit to the Kashmir Valley, where he met the Congress leaders along with several other delegations of poltical parties, trade union bodies, civil society members and members of chamber of commerce. (KNS)