Congress's Tariq Hameed: 'Democracy is Being Revived' in J&K Assembly's First Budget Session
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Synopsis
Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra expressed his positive outlook on the J&K Assembly's first Budget Session after a seven-year gap, emphasizing the restoration of democracy while calling for a thorough review of the Budget's contents.
Key Takeaways
- Inaugural Budget Session of J&K Assembly after 7 years
- Karra calls for a detailed review of the Budget
- Concerns about state autonomy and governance
- Political discussions on Article 370 to commence
- LG highlights key issues for J&K's development
New Delhi, March 3 (NationPress) Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra expressed optimism regarding the inaugural Budget Session of the J&K Assembly, symbolizing the resumption of the legislative process after more than seven years.
In an interview with IANS, Karra shared his delight at the return of the Budget speech, stating, "It has been years since we've had a Budget speech. It's wonderful to witness the revival of democracy, but we will evaluate the Budget's details after reviewing them."
Karra underscored the necessity of analyzing the budget’s specifics before forming any opinions, adding, "We will engage in discourse on the content once we have examined the complete document. This will allow us to participate in a substantive discussion."
Nonetheless, Karra raised alarms about the prevailing conditions in the area. While he celebrated the restoration of democracy, he stressed that true restoration would only be achieved when the issues surrounding the state's autonomy and governance were adequately addressed.
"We had formed a committee to examine the situation, and their report reveals that many significant issues remain unresolved. This continues to be a critical concern," he remarked.
Karra also referred to the ongoing political discussions, mentioning comments made by his party associate, Khurshid Sahib, regarding Article 370, indicating that his party would clarify its position when the Assembly sessions officially commence.
"Regarding the debates on Article 370, that is part of our party's agenda, and we will tackle it when the Assembly sessions officially start," he concluded.
The inaugural Budget Session of the J&K Assembly commenced in Jammu, with Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha delivering the opening remarks. This session is particularly significant as it represents the first Budget presented by an elected government in the region in over seven years, following the last Budget presented by PDP Finance Minister Dr. Haseen Drabu in February 2018.
During his address, the LG highlighted critical topics such as power capacity, smart meter implementation, good governance, transparency, inclusive development, and industrial growth in J&K.
He also stressed the significance of this Budget, which will be presented by Chief Minister and Finance Minister Omar Abdullah on March 7.
