Khansahib, Dec 27: Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Saturday addressed a gathering at an Awami Darbar in Khansahib area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, strongly pitching for welfare-oriented governance and accountability from elected representatives as well as the administration.
Addressing the gathering, Ruhullah said that governments are elected to serve the people and must carry out welfare works in their interest. He said that when votes are sought from the people, it becomes the moral responsibility of representatives to stand by them and work for their welfare. He observed that when MLAs, MPs or officers fail to perform their duties, it is the common people who suffer the most.
The MP expressed dissatisfaction over the inability of the political system to effectively fight for people’s core issues. He said there has been little progress on protecting land and jobs, and questioned the relevance of political representatives if they are unable to provide relief to the people on basic issues such as roads, drinking water and essential services.
Ruhullah said people have faced repression and hardship and appealed for collective efforts to help them. Referring to governance and bureaucracy, he remarked that rulers and viceroys may come and go, but officers who do not work for the people must remember that they have to live among the locals. He said officers should realise that they belong to this land and must act in the interest of its inhabitants.
The MP also raised concerns over the reservation policy, stating that open merit candidates are suffering as very few posts are available for them. While clarifying that he is not against reservation, Ruhullah said there is a need for rational reservation that ensures fairness and benefits all sections of society without marginalising merit-based candidates. (KNT)
