Jammu, Sep 15: Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma on Tuesday criticised the Jammu and Kashmir government over the duration of the upcoming Assembly session, demanding that it be extended to around 30 days to allow legislators adequate time to raise public issues.
Addressing a press conference at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters, Sharma said the Assembly was the primary platform through which people’s grievances and expectations could be placed 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.
He said the Assembly was the principal forum for raising public concerns, but alleged that the J&K government had undermined the institution’s role.
“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,” Sharma said.
He also criticised Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, saying the Speaker’s chair was expected to function in an unbiased manner.
“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,” he said.
Sharma objected to the proposed seven sittings of the session, saying the limited duration would prevent legislators from adequately taking up 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.
The BJP leader said his party, as the principal Opposition, took the matter seriously because of its responsibility to raise issues affecting the public.
“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,” Sharma said.
He also accused the government of failing to provide effective routine governance over the past two years.
“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.
Sharma further alleged that corruption had become a major concern for people dealing with government offices.
“From ordinary officials to ministers, corruption is rampant,” he said, adding that people were increasingly reluctant to visit government offices because “the burden of corruption is being placed on their pockets.”
He accused the government of using the short Assembly session to demonstrate its “non-performance” and “ego”.
“Once again, by making a mockery of the people and scheduling only seven sittings, the government is displaying its non-performance and the ego of this high-headed government,” Sharma said.
He appealed to the Speaker 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.
Sharma said the BJP legislature party had also decided to reach out to people across districts and hear their concerns directly.
“Every district headquarters, we will go there and meet the common people across party lines and understand their issues,” he said.
