Examiner Bureau | Jammu:
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma on Tuesday criticised the Jammu and Kashmir government over the proposed duration of the upcoming Assembly session, demanding that it be extended to around 30 days to give legislators sufficient time to raise issues concerning the public.
Addressing a press conference at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters, Sharma said the Legislative Assembly was the primary democratic forum through which people’s grievances, expectations and demands could be brought before the government.
“People’s expectations are raised before the government through their elected representatives. There is a system in a democracy through which issues are raised and the government works on them so that people can benefit and get relief,” he said.
Sharma alleged that the government had undermined the role of the legislature and questioned its commitment to legislative accountability.
“Unfortunately, I am saying this with regret that the Jammu and Kashmir government has almost lost its legislative accountability. The Assembly has been made a joke,” he alleged.
The BJP leader also criticised Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, saying the Speaker’s office was expected to function impartially and ensure the smooth and unbiased conduct of House proceedings.
“I am most saddened by the Speaker of the Assembly. The Speaker’s chair is expected to oversee the functioning of the Assembly in an unbiased manner. We no longer have much expectation from the Speaker’s chair,” Sharma said.
He objected to the proposed seven sittings, arguing that the schedule would leave legislators with inadequate time to address public concerns.
“With only seven sittings, of which the last sitting mentions ‘business, if any’ and the first sitting refers to obituary, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has made a mockery of the people of Jammu and Kashmir by scheduling only five effective sittings,” he said.
Sharma said the BJP, as the principal Opposition party, had a responsibility to ensure that issues affecting the people received adequate attention in the legislature.
“We had expected the session to be for around 30 days so that the government would listen to the people’s expectations and resolve them,” he said.
Sharma also accused the government of failing to ensure effective routine governance and public outreach.
“For the past two years, there has been no such thing as routine governance visible on the ground. There is no feeling of the government among the people, and there is no public outreach by any minister,” he alleged.
He further alleged that corruption had become a major concern for people dealing with government offices.
“From ordinary officials to ministers, corruption is rampant,” Sharma claimed, alleging that people were increasingly reluctant to approach government offices because of the financial burden associated with corruption.
He accused the government of using the short Assembly schedule to demonstrate what he termed its “non-performance” and “ego”.
Sharma urged Speaker Rather to reconsider the schedule and extend the session.
“We demand that the Speaker should still reconsider the matter. There is still time. Reconsider it, Speaker sahib, and extend the duration of this session to around 30 days,” he said.
The BJP legislature party, he added, has also decided to undertake a district-level outreach programme to directly hear public grievances.
“Every district headquarters, we will go there and meet the common people across party lines and understand their issues,” Sharma said.
