 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Sept 21: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) has demanded a comprehensive and transparent White Paper on the performance, governance and major policy decisions in Jammu & Kashmir during the period 2014-2024, covering the BJP-PDP coalition period as well as the subsequent period of Lieutenant Governor administration. Gupta said that the demand for a White Paper is not based merely on political allegations. Reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India themselves document a number of deficiencies in implementation, financial management, delays, diversion of funds and incomplete projects. For instance the findings concerning youth employment were equally significant. Under the Himayat scheme, against a target of 53,547 youth to be trained during 2016-17 to 2018-19, only 4,494 youth were trained, and just 732 of them were placed in jobs, according to CAG.
Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President, JKNC Jammu, said that the people of Jammu & Kashmir deserve to know, on the basis of facts and official records, what was achieved, what promises were fulfilled and what commitments remained unimplemented during these ten years. Gupta was addressing in a colourful joining function organized and chaired by Harshvardhan Singh President NCSU at Provincial Party headquarter, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu.
He said that the White Paper should cover all major sectors, including development, employment, education, health, roads and infrastructure, power, water supply, tourism, industry, agriculture, youth affairs, financial management, implementation of Central and J&K schemes, and the status of major development projects.
"People should be given a clear and factual account of the decisions taken during 2014-2024 and their impact on the lives of ordinary citizens. There should be no political concealment or selective presentation of facts," Gupta said.
He added that several audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India have already examined different aspects of J&K's governance and implementation of development programmes. The CAG, for example, examined implementation of projects under the Prime Minister's Development Package and identified issues relating to humanitarian relief, crisis management, social infrastructure and development projects.
Gupta alleged that the people of Jammu & Kashmir were repeatedly given assurances and promises, but many important commitments remained unfulfilled. He said the NC would therefore seek a sector-wise, district-wise and project-wise assessment, supported by government records and independent audit findings.
He said that the proposed White Paper should also place before the public the financial position of Jammu & Kashmir, expenditure on major projects, employment generation, pending liabilities and the status of incomplete or delayed works.
"Jammu & Kashmir belongs to its people, and they have every right to know the truth about the last decade of governance. The record should be placed before the public in black and white so that facts, rather than political claims, can determine the assessment of that period," Gupta said.
Among others who were present in the meeting included: Sheikh Bashir Ahmad Provincial Secretary Jammu, Vijay Lochan Chairman SC Cell, Pardeep Bali Provincial Secretary Jammu, Rakesh Singh Raka Vice President Central Zone, Rajni Devi Working President Women Wing Jammu, Farooq Mughal, Abdul Qayoom Bhagwan District President Doda Rural (Bhaderwah), Rahul Attri and others. |
