Castigating the state government for its failure on all fronts, Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that Government had failed to fulfil its basic responsibilities and their claims of solving the problems of the people had fallen flat.Addressing the Friday gathering at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, Mirwaiz said the government had even failed to provide people with the basic amenities and infrastructure required for catering to their daily problems and woes.He said more than a year had passed since the devastating floods had hit Kashmir but the government had paid no attention to resolve the problems of the flood-affected and even traders, who pay taxes worth crores of rupees to the government every year, had been left high and dry and to fend for themselves.Hurriyat (M) Chairman said it was unfortunate that even before the onset of winters, people of the Srinagar city were being subjected to load shedding of electricity for long hours and thus made to spend long winter evenings in the darkness four times a week. He said people were also facing acute water scarcity and other problems while in rural Kashmir, the problems are multifold.
He said the government was making tall claims for resolving the problems of the people but it seems to be non-existent on the ground. Those who claim to be "elected" by the people have happily settled down in Jammu and said goodbye to the people of the valley and their woes.Mirwaiz said tough the government talks of bringing Kashmir on the international tourist map, people of Kashmir were even craving for basic amenities like power supply and drinking water.Giving an example of the Srinagar Airport which the govt. claims as "international" was non operational for civilian aircrafts and no commercial flights took off or landed during the past four days due to the interference of the Indian Air Force, who are not allowing installation of ILS system, he said resultantly thousands of travelers were subjected to acute hardships. It is ironical that this only Airport in Kashmir used for civilian air traffic has also been given under the control of Air Force of India and a complete civilian Airport is actually nonexistent in Kashmir.
Hurriyat (M) Chairman said the problems get compounded for the travelers as Srinagar-Jammu highway has become extremely dangerous for the movement of the people of Kashmir and the travelers have become prone to attacks by communal and fanatic elements who keep on targeting Kashmiri truck drivers on the highway while the government is watching as a silent spectator.He said an impression was being created that the local government in Jammu Kashmir was free to take any decision but in reality all the decisions taken in the state were being dictated by New Delhi.Mirwaiz said Kashmiris are the real owners of vast and rich resources of Kashmir and for controlling and grabbing them New Delhi, with the help of the puppet government of the state, was trying to acquire total control of these rich resources by hook or by crook.Hurriyat (M) Chairman said that in reality the issues of people of Kashmir would not be resolved until people of Kashmir have control over their own resources and added that these issues are actually the outcome of the unresolved issue of Kashmir. We believe until Kashmir issue was not resolved as per the wishes of Kashmiris their problems and woes will not end effectively. (KNS)