Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA R.S. Pathania has called for the immediate dismissal of Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary from the Council of Ministers. Pathania cited allegations of serious irregularities and malpractices within government departments, including the Roads & Buildings Department and the Mining Department, which he described as a “den of corruption” where illegal mining has been institutionalized.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Pathania, representing the Udhampur East constituency, stated that if the Deputy Chief Minister does not possess the moral conscience to resign in light of accusations made by MLAs of the ruling alliance, the Chief Minister should take decisive action. Pathania asserted that the state government, under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, should remove Choudhary from his cabinet position due to the grave nature of the accusations leveled against him.
The BJP legislator further alleged that the unchecked mining activities have led to the depletion of riverbeds and drains, exacerbating flooding risks for local communities. He claimed that floodwaters are entering homes with significant force due to the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining practices.
Addressing a recent meeting of the National Conference (NC) in Dachigam, Pathania dismissed it as a superficial event intended to distract the public and media. He accused the NC-led administration of betraying its election promises through “fraud, lies and deception.” According to Pathania, the people of Jammu and Kashmir had placed their trust in the NC with a strong mandate, but the government has subsequently failed to deliver on its commitments.
Furthermore, Pathania highlighted the government’s inaction on the issue of regularizing daily-wage workers. He recounted a pattern where the Chief Minister initially promises a committee to address the issue, followed by assurances that the committee is working, only to repeat similar statements throughout the government’s term. Pathania drew a parallel to a cabinet sub-committee formed between 2008 and 2014, whose report, he noted, never saw the light of day.
The MLA contended that the Jammu and Kashmir Government has been ineffective over the past 19 months, despite significant support from the central government. He criticized the state of daily governance, stating that the government’s presence is not felt. Pathania characterized the current administration as embodying confusion, controversy, and a constant cycle of new dramas and enigmas.
On a different note, R.S. Pathania expressed his support for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Jammu and Kashmir. He urged for the process to be welcomed wholeheartedly, emphasizing the need for comprehensive, foolproof, and secure electoral rolls to ensure the integrity of the democratic process.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
