This refers to the protest rally by the State Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Member of Assembly from Kulgam, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami in Srinagar. The leader has demanded framing of effective laws for weeding out corruption and to break the “politician-bureaucrat nexus” in the state. Tarigami has rightly observed that the State Accountability Commission is a dead organization. It is headless and defunct for the past few years. It should have been the priority of the government to revive this anti-corruption organization. Recently a meeting to select SAC chairman and members was convened, but it was later postponed. The State Vigilance Organization seems to be catching small officials while leaving the big sharks untouched. This has marred the entire fight on corruption. The government doesn’t have the commitment to lay hands on big sharks. Tarigami’s rally against mis-governance in the state is highly appreciable. He has also talked about inflation which has affected a common man considerably. Tarigami has demanded a Lokpal-type legislation in Jammu and Kashmir for curbing the menace of corruption. The Government must consider the demand and think about it rationally. Tall promises about taking action against the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats and tax evaders by the authorities have proven a hoax so far. The Government is only making promises. It is not doing much on ground. Tarigami has also urged India and Pakistan to continue dialogue process for the resolution of Kashmir issue. Indeed, India and Pakistan should stop fighting with each other and do justice with Kashmiris who don’t want peace of graveyard to prevail in the Valley. Kashmiris want their rights. The stand by both the countries to carry forward the dialogue process after Mumbai blasts is commendable. It is heartening to see that the peace process was not derailed in the wake of blasts and we hope that they will go ahead with the same spirit.

Aijaz Majid
Kulgam Kashmir

Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST