State Govt failed to properly utilize Central funds: Beigh Mufti seeks peoples support to change inefficient, corrupt system in state

GNS Kathua, Feb 07: Expressing his concern over prevailing trust deficit in the government and

mal-administration in the state, former Chief Minister and patron of Peoples Democratic Party

PDP Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today sought support of the people to change the present inefficient and corrupt system so as to give justice to the all sections of the society.

Addressing an impressive public meeting at Kathua, Mr Sayeed said that during its tenure PDP-Congress regime had proved how to bring change in the life of the people by propagating the pro-people policies. “We had just 16 members in our kitty but we took revolutionary steps to provide justice to the all sections of the society”, he said and added that it was only during PDP-Congress regime that governance consciousness was generated in the people of Jammu and Kashmir. PDP-Congress regime had brought transparency in the governance by strengthening democratic institutions in the state.

He said that not only accountability and transparency was brought in the government but peoples’ faith in the democracy was also revived during PDP-Congress regime. “The present regime during the last three years has derailed the whole process”, he regretted and added that people were now fed up with this non serious regime, its mis-governance and the strikingly corrupt system. “Corruption has crossed all limits during the last three years because there is no transparency and accountability in the governance”, he observed and present regime has been committing the same blunders which were committed by the earlier NC regime from 1996 to 2002. “PDP-Congress during its six years tenure had removed the trust deficit but the present government through its policy has fueled alienation among the people”, he said.

Reiterating resolve of his party to bring in positive change in the State, he said that his party had successfully proved its capability to transform promises its reality during the tenure of previous PDP-Congress regime from 2002 to 2008.

 “Attaining power is not aim of the PDP. Our goal is to restore the lasting and sustainable peace in this region and to bring in over all change in the system to provide justice to all sections of the society”, he said and reminded the gathering that PDP was formed to restore dignity and honour of the people of this State and to minimize miseries of the common masses.

Listing achievements of the previous PDP-Congress regime in the State, former Chief Minister said that changes were visible during that period. “Not only atrocities and killing of innocent were stopped, peace to some extent was established all over the state during that period”, he said.

PDP chief recalled the historic public meeting of the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at Srinagar in which he had extended hands of friendship towards Pakistan despite being the fact that tension was high on border at that time due to Parliament attack. He said that it was result of the policies of the PDP-Congress government that ceasefire was announced on the border and peace was restored all along from Kathua to Kargil.

Lambasting coalition for taking cosmetic steps to contain corruption, he said that there was a pressing need for strengthening the institutions of State Accountability Commission (SAC) and Vigilance Organization.

He strongly demanded that the SAC should be provided with its own independent investigation wing so that corruption cases can be investigated independent of government interference.

Coming down heavily on state government for adopting discriminatory policies in disbursement of development funds, former Chief Minister demanded a probe into distribution of funds during the last three years in the state. “A commission should be constituted to probe where the funds sanctioned by the Centre, during the last three years, have been utilised”, he demanded.

He regretted that instead of implementing decisions taken in the meetings of the District Development Board (DDBs), the government has been distributing funds in arbitrary manner which is a glaring example of injustice with the areas represented by the members of opposition parties.

Speaking on the occasion, former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh blamed Congress and National Conference for present chaos and anarchy in the state and reminded that infamous 1987 rigged elections were the real cause of militancy in the state. He said that NC has always bartered wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for enjoying power.

Dubbing present NC regime as total failure, Beigh said that Central government has sanctioned a whopping amount of Rs 31000 crore for the development of the state but the present government has failed to properly utilized the same amount. “State Government has to utilize an amount of Rs 6000 annually for five years, but this regime even failed to spent an amount not more than Rs 600 per annum”, he said.

Highlighting policies and programmes of the PDP, he said that policies and programmes of this party were guided by the wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He especially mentioned that Mufti Mohammad Sayed as Chief Minister of the State had set an example of good governance. He further said that during the regime of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed recruitment system was streamlined as well as accountability and transparency were brought to recruit only genuine and deserving candidates on government jobs.

"Unlike previous NC regime where backdoor appointments was a routine affair, PDP led regime provided corruption free and transparent government to people of Jammu and Kashmir", he said and asked the people to strengthen PDP to eradicate corruption from the society.

General secretary of the party Thakur Balbir Singh, Sardar Rangil Singh, T S Bajwa, Suresh Sharma, Falail Singh, Rajinder Singh Manhas, Mohinder Kotwal, Narinder Singh Raina, Digvijay Singh, Vinod Gupta, Jodh Singh, Joginder Singh, Randeep Singh Jasrotia, Surinder  Singh, R K Bali, Gurdeep Singh Panday. Ashok Jogi, H R Chargotra, B N Bloria, Mohammad Rouf, Pawan Dev Singh, Michal Singh, Ram Krishan, Shagun Dev Singh, Vimal Sharma, Master Bhagwan Dass and others also addressed the rally.