Srinagar: National Conference vice president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that New Delhi wants to put different actors on the political chessboard and questioned as to why are voters in Kashmir not trusted to know what was good for them.
“New Delhi ‘wants to put different actors on the political chessboard’. This is why people in the valley are deeply suspicious of the new faces & new alliances being foisted on them. Why are voters in Kashmir not trusted to know what is good for them?” Omar tweeted responding to an article in a national daily which termed as contradictory on part of the New Delhi to extend the Central rule while promoting grassroots democracy. The article said that the decisions taken under the rule of the Governor and now of the President give some understanding of the method in what the Centre is attempting in the State.
“The Centre’s approach seems to be to concentrate on delivery of basic services without the intervention of local worthies and in a rule-based manner; removal of the vast discretionary powers of the political executive (already enshrined in governance reforms in other States); and devolving enough funds to local governments so that, if not creating a completely new political landscape, then at least green shoots of an alternative political discourse will flourish,” the article underlines.
Reacting to it, Omar said of course Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies have to be empowered but “why do these pieces (read articles) ignore the reality that many seats in the valley are vacant, the ones that were filled either won unopposed or with a negligible participation of voters.”
“There are a lot of systemic problems in J&K. Participatory democracy & empowered institutions will contribute to solutions being found. The key word here being PARTICIPATORY (sic),” Omar added.
