Statehood key to effective governance in IIOJK: Khurshid Ganai, Quraishi
Srinagar: Former IAS officer and chairman of Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) Khurshid Ahmad Ganai has called for early restoration of statehood to Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir for effective governance.
According to Kashmir Media Service, speaking at the second Mohammad Shafi Pandit Memorial Lecture in Srinagar, Ganai said there was a perception among people that governance had become less effective since the region lost its statehood and administrative constraints had left the elected government with limited powers.
“Unfortunately, many people these days lament the rather lacklustre performance of the elected government. We wish the elected government would wake up to its responsibilities,” he said, adding that speed of implementation of suggestions made by GCC was not encouraging.
Meanwhile, former Chief Election Commissioner of India S.Y. Quraishi, who also spoke on the occasion, expressed concern over delay in restoration of statehood. “The Centre had assured the Supreme Court that statehood would be restored after Assembly elections. But why is it taking so long? It is a concern,” Quraishi said. He said loss of statehood had been an injustice to Jammu and Kashmir and people had turned out in large numbers for the 2024 Assembly elections.
Quraishi said Kashmir needed democracy, reconciliation and revival of its old social bonds.
