| Now, PDP-BJP legislators scared of their supporters | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, May 11: Amid tense situation in Kashmir, the legislators and ministers are reluctant to meet workers in their constituencies.
This is despite the fact that several PDP-BJP ministers have supported the amnesty to stone pelters but are reluctant to move out due to fear created by stone pelters and militants. "These people support stone pelters and gave them amnesty but are afraid of them," a senior police official said.
Since the 'Darbar' shifted to Srinagar, most of the PDP-BJP ministers either prefer to stay at Civil Secretariat or in Jammu.
"I cancelled my south Kashmir visit last due to security reasons," a minister said. "I don't want to face stone pelting."
"The ministers are not able to move in the Srinagar city due to stone pelting incidents," he said.
"There is so much of fear that even local MLAs are reluctant to go in various constituencies then how can you expect BJP ministers to visit these places," a BJP minister said.
"We ask workers to come to Srinagar and meet us. We don't want to take any risk by visiting own constituencies," a PDP legislator said. He said that he has decided not to move to his constituency till the situation turns normal.
Meanwhile, people said that most of the ministers do not remain available at Civil Secretariat.
"We visited the Civil Secretariat two times regarding our civic issues in our district, including lack of staff and shortage of medicines at district hospital," said Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of old Baramulla.
He was waiting along with a group of people outside the Health Minister's chamber at the Civil Secretariat on Thursday. "The officials said the minister is not here, and we had to again return home without meeting the minister," Ghulam said.
A delegation from Handwara had to return home from the Civil Secretariat after the ministers, they wanted to meet were not available. "We visited several times for the last three days for redress of sanitation problem, shortage of drinking water and health issues. Every time we have to return home as the concerned ministers are not available here," Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Pakharpora, Pulwama said.
He was waiting outside the chamber of Irrigation and Flood Control minister at 1 pm. "The minister is not here," an official outside the minister's chamber said.
"Few ministers who come to Civil Secretariat just come as a formality for an hour and left without meeting the people," said a security official, wishing anonymity.
Sources said most of the ministers remained available only on the first day when Chief Minister received guard of honour following which she held a meeting with ministers.
BJP President, Amit Shah had directed the party ministers to visit every constituency of the Valley. He had asked them to meet "common masses" and expand the base of the party there. However, its ministers are reluctant to visit the Valley especially in south Kashmir due to security reasons. |
|
