Baramulla: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma on Wednesday accused the National Conference-led government of using the restoration of Statehood issue to divert attention from governance failures, as he said the BJP would raise public grievances in the Assembly during the upcoming session.
Sharma made the remarks while interacting with residents and representatives from Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora at Dak Bungalow, Baramulla, as part of the BJP legislative group’s pre-session public outreach programme.
He said the BJP legislative group would visit district headquarters across J&K ahead of the Assembly session, beginning September 21, to hear public grievances and take them up in the legislature.
“A large number of people have come from different parts of North Kashmir with their issues. Our legislative group has decided that before the Assembly session, we will visit every district headquarters, listen to the problems of the people and ensure that their genuine concerns are raised in the appropriate forum,” Sharma said.
He alleged that corruption and unemployment had reached alarming levels and said the government should focus on issues directly affecting people instead of citing lack of powers.
“Let them pave the way for us. We will show how to work. They have the work, but they are not using it,” he said.
Sharma said people had raised issues related to roads, bridges, water supply, electricity charges, tourism, employment, outsourced workers, NHM employees, Anganwadi workers and municipal elections.
On employment, he alleged that jobs were increasingly being filled through outsourcing and said the concerns of unemployed youth and workers required government intervention.
He also alleged that funds released by the Centre were not being utilised effectively on the ground and linked this to delays in holding Panchayati Raj and Urban Local Body elections.
On municipal elections, Sharma said strengthening grassroots democratic institutions was essential for effective local governance and development.
The LoP said the BJP would raise the concerns of different sections of society during the Assembly session and seek answers from the government on governance, employment, development and delivery of public services.
J&K BJP General Secretary Anwar Khan, Baramulla in-charge Bilal Parray and other senior party leaders accompanied Sharma during the outreach programme.
