Srinagar, Oct 10: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said good governance and effective administration require a strong, active and empowered opposition to highlight public grievances,represent people’s aspirations and hold the government accountable.
He said the role of the opposition in a democracy was not confined to criticism but also included reviewing governmentpolicies, safeguarding constitutional values and ensuring that public concerns receive due attention.
Abdullah said suppressing the opposition’s voice, refusing to tolerate dissent and denying people the right to raiselegitimate concerns undermined the spirit of democracy and rendered claims of good governance meaningless.
Emphasising the importance of democratic institutions, he said a strong democratic system rested on freedom ofexpression, respect for differing opinions, public participation and institutional accountability. Any departure from theseprinciples, he added, was detrimental to democracy.
He also expressed concern over what he described as the use of intimidation, pressure and excessive force to silencedissenting voices and create an atmosphere of fear.
Abdullah said the alleged attempts to suppress people’s voices in the national capital reminded him of the treatmentpeople in Kashmir had faced over the years.
He observed that silencing public voices, restricting dissent and ignoring legitimate demands did not resolve problems butinstead widened the gap between people and those in power.
The strength of democracy, he said, lay in ensuring that every citizen could express their views and pursue their rightsthrough peaceful and constitutional means.
The NC president also underscored the importance of protecting the sanctity of the vote, describing it as a valuable trustplaced by the people and the foundation of democracy.
He said ensuring transparency in the electoral process, restoring public confidence and safeguarding the credibility of democratic institutions were essential for strengthening the country’s democratic framework.
Abdullah reiterated that the National Conference would not compromise on the constitutional and democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the party would continue its efforts to secure the legitimate constitutional rights of the people, strengthendemocratic institutions and work towards the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
