Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Dec 15: The president of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), Tariq Hameed Karra, stated today that the dual control system in the Union Territory of J&K is detrimental to its residents and also contradicts national interests.
During a press conference following a workers’ meeting at the party headquarters, Karra emphasized, “I have long maintained that this dual control system is extremely harmful to the people of J&K. It is not beneficial to the nation as a whole.”
He expressed concerns regarding the possible restoration of statehood, asserting that any modified version of statehood would be unacceptable. “I fear that if a bill is introduced to restore J&K’s statehood with amendments, we need to consider what those amendments mean and the implications of the final outcome. I have continuously stated our rejection of statehood in any altered format. I sincerely wish to be mistaken,” he remarked. He further suggested that the approach taken by the BJP-led Government could lead to a “compromised” statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.
Karra accused the Government of unjustly punishing the people of Jammu and Kashmir and cautioned against inciting unrest. “They are sowing discord among the youth and the broader populace of Jammu and Kashmir,” he stated. He pointed out the confusion faced by Government employees, saying, “The employees of J&K are bewildered, unsure if they are accountable to an elected Government or the lieutenant governor. This dual control system has a direct negative impact on the marginalized communities in J&K.”
He criticized the frequent hikes in electricity tariffs, indicating that they rise every three months without clarity over the management of the power sector. “Who bears responsibility for this? Is it deliberate? We should avoid exacerbating the unrest here,” he cautioned.
Karra also alleged that local officials are discriminated against, noting, “Local officers are assigned inferior postings while external officers seem to treat their tenure here as a holiday. This is a form of mental distress,” he claimed.
Reiterating the Congress party’s commitment, Karra asserted that it has persistently highlighted issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir on both national and international platforms. “Rahul Gandhi has represented the aspirations of the J&K populace, their statehood, and their rights, which have been stripped away, in Parliament and elsewhere,” he stated.
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