People’s mandate must be respected, promises fulfilled: Hakeem Yaseen

• Says NC secured massive mandate on promises of development, jobs and restoration of Article 370, 35A
• Urges government to deliver on commitments instead of shifting blame
• Calls for concrete action on unemployment, water supply, infrastructure and daily-wagers’ regularisation

SRINAGAR: President People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and former Cabinet Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen on Monday said the massive mandate given to the National Conference in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections was based on a series of commitments, including development, tackling unemployment and fighting for the restoration of the constitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir.

Hakeem said the people had voted for the National Conference with certain expectations, but there was growing disappointment that the mandate appeared to have been diluted.

“The people gave a massive mandate to the National Conference after they were promised development, employment opportunities and a fight for the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A. But unfortunately, it appears that the people’s mandate is being diluted, much like what happened after the 1975 Accord,” Hakeem said.

He said there was no denying that the Government of India had historically lacked a clear and consistent policy towards Jammu and Kashmir, and that ambiguity continued in different forms. However, he said, the elected government within Jammu and Kashmir also had a responsibility to put up a strong political fight for the interests and aspirations of the people.

“Before the elections, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had himself stated that he would not contest elections because the Union Territory setup had limited powers. After the elections, he knew the powers available to the elected government and the limitations under which it had to function. Therefore, whatever commitments were made to the people must now be honoured,” he said.

Hakeem urged the Chief Minister to focus on fulfilling his commitments instead of engaging in a blame game. “The people are not interested in who is responsible for what. They want results. They want development, employment, better water supply, improved infrastructure and relief from the day-to-day problems they are facing. The government must work within its available powers and deliver on the promises made to the electorate,” he said.

Referring to the political developments of 1984, Hakeem said the then elected government was controversially toppled after a group of legislators from the National Conference withdrew their support from Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. The political developments subsequently led to the installation of Ghulam Mohammad Shah as Chief Minister.

“There was a change of guard in 1984 and it created a major political controversy. But people also remember the period that followed for certain developmental initiatives and recruitment drives,” Hakeem said. He particularly referred to the recruitment of thousands of daily-wage workers, saying that many people still remember that period for the employment opportunities created at the grassroots level.

“Approximately 36,000 daily-wagers got permanent jobs during that period and there was a sense among the people that their livelihoods were being addressed. Even today, a large number of these workers and their families continue to wait for regularisation. Successive governments have failed to find a permanent solution to the issue of daily-wagers,” he said.

Hakeem said attempts to portray the political developments of that period solely through allegations of harassment of legislators were misplaced. “Some people have alleged that MLAs or MLCs were harassed during that period. Such claims are totally fabricated and should not be used to distort history. The real issue was the manner in which the people’s mandate was treated and the political turmoil that followed,” he said.

He said changes in government and political arrangements should ultimately be judged by their impact on the people. “Politics cannot be reduced to the question of who occupies the chair. The real test of any government is whether it serves the people, protects their interests and fulfils the commitments made to them,” Hakeem said.

The PDF president said the present government must take concrete steps to address issues concerning development, unemployment, drinking water, infrastructure and other basic necessities. “It is mandatory for any elected government to take care of the people and fulfil the promises made to them. The mandate belongs to the people, and no political party has the right to take it for granted,” he said.

Hakeem also called upon the government to formulate a clear roadmap for addressing unemployment and the concerns of young people. “The youth of Jammu and Kashmir are looking towards the government with hope. Mere statements will not solve the unemployment problem. There is a need for a concrete employment policy, faster recruitment and greater investment in sectors that can generate sustainable livelihoods,” he said.

He said the government should also remain responsive to local issues, particularly drinking water, power, roads, healthcare and other essential services. “People expect governance at their doorstep. They want functioning water supply schemes, better roads, reliable electricity, adequate healthcare and employment opportunities. These are basic responsibilities of any government,” Hakeem said.

He reiterated that the political leadership of Jammu and Kashmir must remain connected with the aspirations of the people and should not allow the people’s mandate to become a mere electoral statistic. “The people have given their verdict and the government must respect that verdict. The responsibility now lies with the elected leadership to demonstrate through its actions that the mandate given by the people has not been taken for granted,” Hakeem said.