Finally we have a civilian government
We now have a duly elected government after Wednesday's oath taking ceremony, though with very limited powers, after a long wait of almost seven years. Much before it was to be sworn in, it has been stripped off its legitimate powers and reduced almost to a Municipality. Notwithstanding the powers it has, the moment of its installation is highly significant for us because of the fact that at least people's representatives will have a say in day to day affairs of governance. The new government has formidable challenges ahead. It has a very strong opposition to face whose preferences may be contrarian. Backed by the government at the centre this opposition may hardly be inclined to reconcile with people's verdict.
The survival of this duly elected popular government will largely depend on the wisdom and statesmanship qualities of the Chief Minister as leader of the new house. It will depend on the quality of members of his cabinet. It will depend on how he allocates various portfolios. It will depend on how far he is able to accommodate regional aspirations through just distribution of powers. The survival of this government will also depend on the behaviour of the legislators and the extent to which they cooperate with their leader.
Any unwise or hasty step in implementing its agenda will be counter productive.
We fervently believe that BJP will allow the government to function without creating any hurdles so as to take Jammu and Kashmir away from the mess it is in. Let's hope that BJP elects a seasoned person as the leader of the opposition to allow the government to run smoothly.
The new government, without any waste of time, needs to formulate a time bound plan of action for first hundred days. This is a huge task and needs meticulous planning.
People are impatiently waiting, how the new government takes off and how it addresses some of their basic problems; and there isn't just one problem. There is a multitude of problems, one more important than the other.
"There are bruises all over the body nay the entire body is bruised, so where to put the balm"
Anyway some of the issues that deserve a placement in top priority slot, and have a huge societal impact, are:
Release of prisoners languishing in different jails without trial
Review of PSA and other draconian laws. The government can't have the excuse of this being out of its purview. Even otherwise also the issue has had to be agitated. Thousands of men, women, children, old and infirm are lying in different jails in absolutely sub human conditions without proper trial for number of years.
Review of cases of government employees terminated from services without having been properly charged and given opportunity to defend themselves.
Withdrawal of cases against innocents implicated in things like stone pelting charges
Speedy disposal of Passport cases, where it is denied to different applicants on flimsy grounds
A review of media policy, including social media
Adverse impact of reduced import duty on fruit particularly apples and walnuts on the local fruit industry -the backbone of Kashmir economy
Quick review of working of different departments to rectify the wrongs committed during the past many years
By: Bashir Ahmad Dar
The author is an eminent educationist.
