Srinagar: Senior National Conference (NC) leader and Member of Parliament from Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, Mian Altaf Ahmad Larvi on Sunday said that no meaningful political or administrative progress has taken place in Jammu and Kashmir since the formation of the new government.
“There have been no positive steps on political issues in J&K since this government took charge,” Altaf said, while speaking at the 4th Halla Bol Conclave here, hinting at his support for fellow party leader Aga Ruhullah Mehdi’s criticism of the NC government’s failure in upholding its 2024 poll promises.
As per the news agency KNO, he said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should introspect and focus on governance rather than rhetoric. “It will be wrong if I say Omar Sahib is on the right track—that would be deceiving him. He must see what rights and limits he has and how he can better serve the people who elected him,” Altaf said.
The NC MP said Kashmir’s political leadership has become consumed by debates over who aligns with or opposes the BJP, while people’s concerns remain ignored. “The Chief Minister should be the one talking about the people’s welfare,” he said.
Criticising the government for failing to start recruitment drives, Altaf said thousands of educated youth in J&K are growing hopeless. “Many have postgraduate and PhD degrees, but there has been no recruitment yet. The process should have started from day-one with advertisements issued by the recruitment agencies,” he said, adding that it is the duty of elected representatives to raise public issues and fight for their rights.
He also said the government could have done much more with the powers that rest with the chief minister.
“There is no doubt that the people in the government have to improve their performance… So, Omar sahab needs to see to these things. The responsibility lies with him. He has to see how much improvement he has made within the powers he has,” Altaf said.
The soft-spoken tribal leader from Kangan in Ganderbal district, however, said holding the chief minister responsible for something he does not have control over was wrong.
“Holding him responsible for something he cannot do is wrong. But something which he can do, but he doesn’t do, that should not happen,” he added.
On a remark Abdullah recently made on the installation of smart electricity metres in J&K, Altaf said he has faced enough heat on the matter.
“It would be better for Omar, now that he is in the CM’s chair, to weigh his words before speaking. This is my advice to him as a well-wisher,” he said.
On the Deputy Chief Minister’s comments targeting Aga Ruhullah, Altaf remarked, “Everyone knows who Aga Ruhullah is. Anyone speaking against him will not harm his credibility.” (With inputs from KNO & PTI)
