Governance in JK Suffers Under Dual Control: Karra

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra on Monday expressed serious concern over the prevailing administrative setup in Jammu and Kashmir, terming the dual control system “deeply disturbing” for governance.

Addressing a workers’ convention in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, Karra said that the current arrangement was not only dysfunctional due to overlapping authority but also undermined the spirit of the alliance.

“The way the LG administration is functioning, it appears unwilling to cede even a minimal share of authority, while the government seems to be overreaching. The ultimate sufferers are the common people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Karra said.

Responding to speculation about a new political front in the region, Karra stated that the Indian National Congress remains committed to the INDIA alliance, which includes the PDP and National Conference, and said he had no knowledge of any new political formation.

He rejected the idea that coalition partners must always appear together in public or contest elections jointly. “Congress and National Conference contested elections based on their respective manifestos. Each party is accountable to its own voters,” he said.

Karra reiterated that the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir remains a core demand of the Congress. He criticised the Centre for failing to fulfil its repeated promises. “Since August 5, 2019, we’ve heard one promise after another—in Parliament, at public events, and during visits to the Valley. None of these assurances have materialised,” he said.

He accused the government of shifting the narrative—from delimitation to elections—keeping people in a prolonged state of uncertainty. “This is not just a political issue. Statehood is our constitutional right,” he asserted.

Addressing the convention, Karra also highlighted the significance of the Congress-led campaign Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq, which seeks the immediate restoration of J&K’s statehood. He said the Congress, under the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, has been holding the Modi government accountable, and that diversionary tactics will no longer work.

On the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, Karra noted that the pilgrimage has always held a sacred place in the hearts of the people of Kashmir. (KNO)