SRINAGAR, MAY 28: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee President, Tariq Hameed Karra, has launched a sharp critique of the prevailing governance model in the Union Territory, attributing stalled development and growing public dissatisfaction to what he termed a “dual control system.”
Speaking to reporters here today, Karra condemned the existing arrangement where elected representatives operate under the overarching authority of the Lieutenant Governor. He described the setup as both untenable and undemocratic. “People are beginning to question whether they voted for solutions or to face new hardships. Their faith in the democratic process is hanging by a thread,” he said. He warned that rising public disenchantment could further erode the region’s political and administrative stability. “This model isn’t just inefficient — it undermines the essence of democracy. Without restoring full statehood and empowering elected representatives, the situation is bound to deteriorate,” Karra cautioned.
Highlighting public frustration, Karra said the pace of governance had slowed significantly. “Government offices are barely functional. There’s a severe financial crunch at the grassroots level. Despite the passage of the budget, not a single rupee has been released — not even the constituency development funds allocated to MLAs,” he noted.
Referring to the recent tragic attack that impacted the tourism sector, Karra urged the administration to launch immediate confidence-building measures to restore a sense of security among both residents and tourists. “People need reassurance and the economy needs urgent support. The government cannot afford to delay action,” he added. Karra also criticised the central government’s foreign policy, arguing that despite its active diplomatic outreach, India failed to garner international support during a recent crisis. “This lays bare the hollowness of image-driven diplomacy. It may look impressive on paper, but it faltered when needed most,” he said. Reiterating his demand, the Congress leader stressed that only the restoration of full statehood and genuine democratic governance can help return normalcy and reinvigorate development in Jammu and Kashmir.