ONCE upon a time Srinagar was considered prime of the state and pride of the Valley. But this glory and belongingness got lost. Thanks to the lack of interest and concern of its representatives who have perhaps disowned the City though Srinagar has been forced to own them through political compulsions in view of the special circumstances of Kashmir, which came as a blessing for those who could not even dream of the positions they are enjoying.  Squarely at the behest of their luck but the misfortune is that hapless population of Srinagarites is feeling chocked looking from any angle one would like to see.
 Present dispensation is generally known as Coalition Govt but practically looks to be as if it be called as Collusion Govt wherein Ministers are busy in confrontation with one another without any cohesion to run the state on equitable distribution of resources for proper and equal development.
 In this race of individual interests people of Valley are harbouring an impression that they have suffered and continue to suffer of which no one is taking any note being its representative. Discrimination on any basis should be avoided but same is every now and then coming on the forefront.
 It was quite heartening to note that the other day even hard line political rival of the Kashmir and BJP leader Mr Khajura admitted before media that Kashmir lacks development though he too has thrown the blame on its leaders saying they have been only exploiting the people for vote bank purposes.
 A cursory glance as to how the system works would show in which state of affairs are the people living without their being any one to turn to for redressal of grievances. And it seems everyone and everything pertaining to the Valley in general and City in particular has been taken for granted.
 When officials are asked as to why the developmental projects are not taking off in time the answer is funds meant for state are not utilized timely because some of the Mantris concerned did not clear the files at the right time. As a result funds lapse quite often.
 All leaders are cementing their political base by propagating the slogan of equal development and
 Distribution, of all the regions: Jammu  , Kashmir and Ladakh. True as per population and other factors same should be devised in a just and equitable manner, as every region has an equal right of development, but in fact what happens is quite reverse.
 GK in its September 21 issue in a front page report stated that Tourism Ministry has allocated out of Rs 23.00 Crores,  Rs 8.0 Crore to Leh and mere Rs 25.00 laks to Kargil (for reasons better known to the honourable Minister)and Rs 13.00 Crores for 11 districts of the Valley which means almost eight times more to Leh alone than any district of Kashmir. And Rs.1.20 -Crore for Amarnath Yatra facilities. What was the criteria of this distribution by ignoring Valley and more particularly Srinagar City is apparently un-understandable.
 Amid this all Kashmir is politically deserted at the hands of its own representatives and Srinagar City being an “Orphan Child of Destitute Women”, motherland Kashmir, has to live life of a destitute with nobody to fall back upon.
babashir@gmail.com
(The ideas expressed are author’s own)

Lastupdate on : Wed, 10 Oct 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 10 Oct 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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