Srinagar, Oct 2: National Conference General Secretary and Khanyar MLA Ali Muhammad Sagar on Friday said restoration of statehood was essential to strengthen the authority of the elected government and ensure administrative accountability.
Sagar said the existing administrative arrangement had given the bureaucracy significant powers, which, according to him, had at times led to differences between officials and decisions of the elected government and Assembly.
Referring to recent communications by senior officials concerning the Assembly resolution on statehood, Sagar said such developments raised concerns about the relationship between the elected House and administration.
He said statehood would provide an effective constitutional and administrative framework for the elected government to hold the administration accountable to the people.
Sagar also said references in the recent Assembly resolution to the June 26, 2000 Autonomy Resolution and the November 6, 2024 resolution reflected the National Conference’s stated political position. The Assembly passed a resolution on September 28 seeking immediate restoration of full statehood, with references to the earlier resolutions.
Criticising the BJP’s opposition to the resolution, Sagar said the party should make its position on restoration of statehood clear in the Assembly. BJP legislators had opposed the resolution and staged a walkout before it was passed.
