The PDP-BJP coalition led government has neglected the Winter Secretariat this year in Srinagar, after Darbar- moves Jammu; hardly any minister has been deputed here to monitor the winter related troubles. Apparently snubbing the idea of winter Secretariat, PDP spokesman Naeem Akhtar, said, “There is divisional commissioner to supervise the situation”.
The purpose of winter secretariat was to assess the essential commodities and supplies during winter in Kashmir. It includes the staffed with one minister on rotational basis, one Special Secretary or Additional Secretary and two Deputy Secretaries with other subordinate staff.
But this is time the present government has abandoned the valley when it is much needed. The minister for education and PDP spokesman Naeem Akhtar told that, “There is a divisional commissioner to monitor the situation in Kashmir,” he said.
When asked have your government given up the idea of winter secretariat, he said minister do ‘visit’ there and chief minister too visited.
It is pertinent to mention here that Valley is cutoff with rest of the world from last three days as heavy snowfall and rains lashed the Kashmir. People are running without essential supplies and electricity and medicines.
At least 10 civilians were killed in snowstorm across the Kashmir and in this grim and alarming situation the government should have been here with people, keeping other priorities aside.
Naeem Akhtar said ministers were busy with assembly that is why they could not visit the valley, but recently, most of the cabinet ministers amid the assembly were seen in Bakhshi stadium on party patron death anniversary.
“Ministers were busy with assembly how they could be present in valley,” Naeem Akhtar said.
The idea of winter secretariat developed during the 90s when the State was under Governor’s Rule, the Winter Secretariat gradually turned into a platform for people to approach the authorities for redressal of their grievances.
Ghulam Nabi Azad the then CM of J&K, in his tenure decided to keep his private office also open during winters in Srinagar for effective response to the grievances and hardships faced by the people.
In January 1987, Rajiv Gandhi, the then PM of India, on a visit to Kashmir was stranded in Srinagar due to heavy snowfall. He felt that the government was non-existent in Kashmir at a time when it was most-needed.
Former CM and NC’s working President Omar Abdullah even called for reversing Durbar Move “to attend people of Kashmir during winters.”
MLA Langate Er Ab Rashid criticized the government for “turning away” the practice.
“This government has failed to deliver on the ground, they don’t gave consider Kashmirs as humans” he said. Adding that, “no minister is wants to stay in Kashmir during winters so they are helpless.”
(KNS)