Nothing in hands of National Conference govt: Usman Majid

Srinagar, Dec 2: Former Minister and MLA Bandipora, Usman Majid, on Monday, criticised the National Conference (NC) government for its failure to address the pressing issues faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to a press release, he was addressing a workers’ convention in Bandipora. Majid accused the NC government of being ineffective, stating that “nothing is in the hands of the NC government,” and accused them of being unable to resolve even their internal disputes with the Congress party.

He said, “People did not vote in the recently concluded elections for drains and footpaths. These are routine responsibilities that respective departments have carried out for years. Even the LG administration has managed these tasks over the past five years when there was no elected government in Jammu and Kashmir. What people expected was genuine governance and development, but those hopes have been crushed, leaving them high and dry.”

The former MLA also criticised the Congress for backtracking on its earlier stance regarding Article 370. “While Congress once championed the restoration of Article 370, they have now reduced their promise to mere statehood—a demand that even the BJP-led central government has made. The real issue is Article 370, on which Congress has compromised and surrendered. They sought votes in the name of 370, but after the elections, they changed their stance and started echoing the BJP’s language,” he asserted.

He lambasted all political parties for resorting to religious politics and exploiting sensitive issues like Articles 370 and 35A for electoral gains. “Restoration of Article 370 remains a distant dream, especially under the current leadership of state parties. People have been misled by promises that were never intended to be kept,” Majid remarked.

He expressed concerns about the governance structure in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting the limitations of the current Chief Minister. “Despite the people voting in large numbers and putting their trust in the democratic process, the Chief Minister remains powerless. The LG administration continues to hold all significant powers, effectively sidelining the elected representatives. This undermines the spirit of democracy,” he said.