Arfat Khan
JAMMU: First time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir political landscape, the formation of Advisory Council is underway to resolve the people’s grievances empathetically by providing reasonable space to all stake holders from region to religion and marginalised sections of society.
Notably comprised of “purely non political” members, Syed Altaf Bhukhari is the only political identity which will head the Advisory Council in UT of J&K.
Highly placed sources in the North Block disclosed that the list of probable AC members has been submitted for final approval to the Ministry of Home Affairs and oath taking ceremony will be held on June 2 at 2 PM in Raj Bhawan at Srinagar.
The arrangements have been completed for the oath ceremony, added sources. This indeed is a great step towards restoring the shattered confidence and faith of the people especially in Kashmir who have been feeling betrayed by the successive political parties, added sources.
Nearly 25 members representing Kashmiri Muslims, Pandits, Paharis, Sikhs, OBC, SC, ST, Bakerwal, Gujjars, Chenab valley and other sections of society from Jammuh ave reportedly found place in the list sent to MHA for approval.
Some names in the list which sources revealed are Masood Choudhary Retd ADGP and former VC BGBSU (ST), Javed Rahi(ST), Rajiv Chuni (PoJK refugee), Labha Ram Gandhi (West Pak Refugee spokesman), Sh. Natha Ram retd CE (SC), Maqbool Mallik, Kashmiri Shia activist from Tangmarg, Mohd Ismail Tantray, former Director JKEDI, Mohd Rashid Wani of Gund, Shuja-ul-Haq, President Kashmir Press Club, Sheikh Ashiq, President KCCI, Ravi Kant (OBC).
Representatives of Rajput and Sikh community from Jammu have also been given adequate representation in the council, informed sources.
Besides persons affiliated with public forums from Jammu region have also been given space in the council, sources revealed.
The mandarins in North Block are considering the formation of AC as a revolutionary step aimed at pushing the JK UT towards holistic development and fill up the major administrative voids created in the society and communities by means of regional discrimination over the period of time. It will act as a bridge between the government and the people, said one officer of MHA.
Not only people, but this step would indeed prove to be a boon for the bureaucracy in Kashmir who was feeling suffocated since long at the hands of self oriented political bosses in the erstwhile state, asserted another highly placed source.
This is considered as a revolutionary step after the reorganisation of the J&K state on August 5, 2019 that will stir up the political buzz in the valley which have came to standstill after the reorganisation of J&K state.