Sadhotra says dual control in IIOJK governance violates democratic spirit
Jammu: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference Additional General Secretary and former minister, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, has strongly criticized the BJP-led Indian government for maintaining dual administrative control, saying it goes against the very essence of democracy and has eroded public trust in institutions.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Sadhotra in a statement said that democracy can only thrive when the people’s elected representatives are empowered to govern, but in IIOJK, authority remains concentrated in the hands of officials not directly accountable to the people. “What we are witnessing today is the opposite — power is centralized, and those who hold it are not answerable to the public,” he said.
He accused the Modi government of consistently degrading political discourse by promoting divisive narratives instead of addressing the genuine political and economic aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “The New Delhi’s approach has disempowered the people and reduced democratic institutions to mere formalities,” he added.
Sadhotra recalled that the Indian government had made repeated assurances, both in Parliament and before the Supreme Court, regarding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
He maintained that denying statehood amounts to a betrayal of trust and has serious implications for India’s democratic fabric. Sadhotra remarked that the political wisdom of the people of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be underestimated.
Questioning the silence of BJP leaders and legislators from Jammu, Sadhotra said it was disappointing that those elected to represent the region have failed to stand with the people’s legitimate demand for statehood.
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