'Restore J&K Legislative Assembly': Congress, TMC Accuse Govt Of Bringing Budget Without Listening To People
Congress member Vivek K Tankha said that the Union Territory is in utter administrative paralysis due to the absence of an elected administration.
New Delhi: The Congress and TMC criticized the central government on Tuesday for bringing in the budget of Jammu and Kashmir without taking into account the desires of the people of the Union Territory and called for the restoration of the legislative assembly there.
In opening the debate on Jammu and Kashmir's budget in Rajya Sabha, Congress member Vivek K Tankha said that the Union Territory is in utter administrative paralysis due to the absence of an elected administration.
"People from all parts of the country discuss the budget. But Jammu and Kashmir people will not participate in the discussion. Besides the four members from Jammu & Kashmir are also not there in the House to discuss the budget as there is no (legislative) assembly there," he was quoted by PTI in its report.
Tankha informed the House that during the previous five years and 254 days, there had been either Governor's rule or President's rule, with no legislature to examine their budget.
"In legislative assembly... people put (forth) their aspirations or views which ultimately provides feedback to the government. A lot of schemes (to meet those aspirations) are made," he stated.
"Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are part of the country. Crores of people live there. They have aspirations and a vision. If we pass the budget (of the state) without listening to aspirations of the people then you can imagine their pain," he said.
He also stated that the budget proposes to "cut" funding for higher education, cultural development, and electricity development.
"The meeting of minds to set the priority (for the state) is not possible because the people don't have their representatives (in the House)," he said.
He urged that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who moved the budget for discussion and returned to Lok Sabha, visit Jammu and Kashmir without her officials to seek "actual input about the ambitions or opinions" of the indigenous people.
Md Nadimul Haque of the Trinamool Congress expressed similar sentiments, claiming that the budget did not represent the socioeconomic situation of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir was 22%, compared to the national average of 7%.
He also cited a study from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, which said that the unemployment rate among educated persons in Jammu and Kashmir is 46.3 per cent, with every second educated youth unemployed.
He further claimed that big contracts for development and other activities had been awarded to international corporations, resulting in an increase in unemployment among local youngsters.
In light of the increased visitor intake, the TMC member emphasised the importance of increasing funding for tourism infrastructure.
"Please stop this... Speak to the local people. Accept the reality. Keep the promises made in the House and outside it, and restore democracy in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
However, BJP member Anil Jain defended the administration throughout the discussion, claiming that GST and stamp duty revenues are increasing in the state, showing an increase in economic growth.
(With PTI Inputs)
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