Terms secrecy ‘deliberate political tactic’
SRINAGAR: Er. Ehtisham Khan, a prominent social and student rights activist, has urged the elected government to come clear on its stand regarding the reservation issue, which has remained shrouded in uncertainty since the very beginning.
He said the government has deliberately kept the people in dark and failed to engage the relevant stakeholders in meaningful deliberations, as was expected of a responsible and representative administration.
“As per the government’s own statement, the report has been submitted or may be submitted soon to the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. If the report cannot be made public, the elected government must, at the very least, disclose the conclusions or opinions it has drawn. People have a right to know what their government thinks and intends to do on an issue that directly concerns their future,” Khan said in a statement issued here.
He added that he fails to understand why the Chief Minister becomes defensive and hides behind the veil of legality every time this issue is raised. “What about those issues that are sub judice or legally questionable, which are still discussed openly in public whenever it suits the government or the ruling party’s political interests? That’s both unfortunate and disappointing,” he said.
Khan said it was time for the government to “stop resorting to political tactics that have repeatedly been used before elections to exploit people’s emotions and divert attention from core issues”. “Sadly, the same pattern is being replayed just ahead of the Budgam–Nagrota by-polls. This isn’t what people expect from an elected dispensation,” he added.
He strongly complimented and expressed heartfelt gratitude to those political leaders who have stood their ground and continued to advocate genuinely for the cause of justice and equality.
In his concluding remarks, Khan appealed to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration to uphold transparency, ensure timely disclosure of facts, and take decisions that truly reflect the spirit of fairness and public trust.