3 MLAs from Rajouri miffed over response mechanism

Rajouri, Jan 24: Three elected Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from Rajouri district Friday shared concern over the situation which emerged after mysterious deaths in Badhaal, alleging that “dual power structure in Jammu and Kashmir was affecting the response mechanism to tackle the crisis.”

They levelled this allegation in a joint press conference in Rajouri.

The legislators also warned of mass resignation in days to come if the situation was not dealt with properly.

The press conference was jointly addressed by MLA Thannamandi, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan; MLA Budhal, Javed Iqbal Choudhary and MLA Rajouri, Iftkhar Ahmed.

The MLAs apprehended that there was a possibility of a rise in the number of cases and fatalities, after the emergence of some illness in Badhaal village of Rajouri, where already seventeen people had lost their lives.

“We appreciate the response mechanism by the local administration, including the district administration, Police as well as health department. Entire manpower deployed in the response mechanism is doing its level best to deal with the situation,” they said.

They, however, alleged that the dual power structure in Jammu and Kashmir was affecting this response mechanism as the bureaucratic setup of UT was not properly responding to the situation.

“This senior officers in the UT administration pass buck to each other and there is no one, who is accountable and this all is creating a situation of chaos,” the MLAs alleged.

They further alleged, “The officers, at the top level, are not taking the situation seriously and this all is happening due to a dual power structure, which should immediately be eradicated especially in context with the situation that has emerged in Badhaal.”

The legislators further said, “The government should ensure that proper medical facilities as well as referral facilities are put on standby mode to deal with this situation especially if more patients, having this mysterious illness, emerge in the village.”

They also raised serious concern over, what they alleged, "the poor healthcare system", stating that 62 percent vacancies in the Government Medical College (GMC), Rajouri, catering to healthcare needs of 15 lakh people showed that healthcare set up was crippling.

“We have 62 percent vacant posts in GMC Rajouri and even a basic facility like MRI is not available. This matter has, time and again, been taken up with the top level of bureaucratic setup in Jammu and Kashmir. But no one is ready to listen as no one is accountable to anyone,” they alleged.