JK Bank our premier institution, trimmed of local executives from management positions
Srinagar, Jan 25: Taking an exception of the recent statements made by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday said that it appears that Mr Sinha has launched a full-fledged election campaign for the BJP and is out to denigrate and demonize its opponent parties.
“One would have expected Mr Sinha to rise above political matters. If complaints against any person or party are there, he should investigate those specific charges instead of making wild allegations against everybody. It is disconcerting to witness the Lieutenant Governor engaging in a broad generalization that seems to mark the commencement of an election campaign for the BJP, targeting others without presenting concrete evidence. We remind Mr. Sinha of the significance of his constitutional role and urge him to desist from making baseless allegations and insinuations that can tarnish the image of public personalities and institutions,” the PDP spokesman said.
He added that for the past six years, the government has been on a relentless witch-hunt against politicians, journalists, and activists who dissent from its ideological position. The PDP spokesman said that the indiscriminate use of arrests, property seizures, and filing of cases has become the modus operandi. “We question the government on the number of convictions secured from these actions so far. LG must remember the responsibility that comes with his position and avoid engaging in a campaign that appears to be more about political posturing than genuine governance,” the party said in a statement.
The recent developments surrounding alleged irregularities in the name of development projects are alarming, said PDP spokesman, adding that the party demands that the government come clean on the execution of works under the smart city projects by making public the list of contractors and the tendering process.
“Transparency is crucial to ensuring public trust and confidence in the administration. The government’s habit of blaming previous administrations for its own shortcomings is not acceptable. Instead of deflecting responsibility, we urge the government to update the public on the progress of investigations into various scams, including the insurance scam, power projects scam, and recruitment scams, as admitted by the government itself in the past,” the spokesman said, adding that it is unfortunate that no recruitment for the jobless youth is being made and in a bid to save face, country’s Home Minister has been asked to distribute appointment letters of the candidates who qualified Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service exam. “It is ironic that such an exercise has been found worthy of Home Minister’s time.”
The spokesman said that the PDP is concerned about recent changes in the higher management of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, especially the increasing removal of local executives. “We value the institution’s historical significance and its role in our region’s economic development. The Jammu and Kashmir Bank has been a source of pride for our people, and we call for its autonomy and credibility to be preserved. We appeal to the Lieutenant Governor to maintain impartiality and ensure institutions function in the public interest, free from undue political interference,” said the PDP spokesman, adding that while PDP supports accountability, it urges the Lieutenant Governor to address specific grievances transparently and initiate fair investigations. The recent trend, says the spokesman, raises concerns about political targeting, especially as the general elections approach. “We caution against using public institutions for political campaigns.”
