Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar, Sep 19 (JKNS): Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma has questioned the Omar Abdullah government’s response to day-to-day public grievances, arguing that issues such as water, electricity, roads, healthcare, education and employment should not repeatedly be attributed to the absence of statehood.
Addressing a public interaction programme in Srinagar, as per news agency JKNS, Sharma said people were approaching the government with issues related to water, electricity, roads, schools, hospitals and jobs, but were repeatedly being told that the administration lacked the required powers.
“For every issue, whether small or big, the only answer that comes from the government and government machinery is that we have no powers,” Sharma said.
Questioning the government’s position, he said, “If at the end of two years we say that we need statehood even to install poles, wires and pipes, and we need statehood even to provide staff, then why are we in government? Why are we in the Assembly?”
Sharma said the elected government had completed two years, but people continued to face frustration and confusion.
He said unemployment, particularly among youth, would be among the major issues to be raised by the Opposition during the upcoming Assembly session.
Sharma also criticised the government’s approach to recruitment and outsourcing, claiming that 25,000 jobs had been occupied through outsourcing.
“You have occupied 25,000 jobs. I say this with a guarantee that these 25,000 will not be advertised again,” he said.
He said his party’s legislative group would take up issues raised by people during the upcoming Assembly session and pursue matters requiring intervention from the Centre.
On statehood, Sharma said the issue should not be used as a blanket explanation for administrative shortcomings.
“If after two years we still have the same answer, I feel that after five years the same answer will be repeated,” he said.
Sharma also questioned the limited number of sitting days of the upcoming Assembly session, saying Jammu and Kashmir had numerous issues requiring discussion.
The J&K Legislative Assembly session is scheduled to begin in Srinagar on September 21. (JKNS)
