Srinagar, Dec 11 (KNO): Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Chief Tariq Hameed Karra on Wednesday emphasized the need to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood to "unlock its developmental potential" and empower local governance.
Speaking to the media in Srinagar during the initiation of an underground drainage project, Karra, as per Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that when he was an MLA, the scale of development that occurred was unparalleled. However, since the region became a UT, there has been a visible gap.
Karra criticized the absence of an elected government since 2014, which he said had "hampered sustained growth." He added, "Today, as a UT, we lack the powers needed to complete large-scale development projects. Statehood is not just a demand but a necessity to fulfill the developmental aspirations of our people."
The JKPCC Chief also addressed infrastructural challenges, pointing to a lack of consultation between bureaucratic authorities and elected representatives. He called for an end to unilateral decision-making and urged collaboration with elected officials to ensure people-centric governance.
Recalling his efforts during the 2014 floods as an MP, Karra lamented inefficiencies in fund utilization for flood mitigation projects. "We secured a Rs 400 crore project for desilting Jhelum and its flood channels. Unfortunately, the funds were mismanaged. Today, we need long-term strategies and statehood to achieve meaningful development," he said.
Karra further said that without statehood, the representative character of governance remains incomplete. "Statehood is the only way to bring the kind of progress our people deserve," he added—(KNO)