Srinagar, September 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
All Party Sikh Coordination Committee chairman and senior political leader Jagmohan Singh Raina has criticised the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly session, alleging that political confrontations and Jammu-versus-Kashmir rhetoric are overshadowing issues directly affecting the public.
Raina’s remarks came amid an uproar in the Assembly over the cancellation of the December 5 holiday commemorating the birth anniversary of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, founder and leader of the National Conference. Questions were also raised during the proceedings over the continuation of the holiday marking the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh, with demands for its cancellation.
Raina said people elect legislators with the expectation that their concerns would be raised, debated and followed by concrete efforts to find solutions.
He questioned the need for political confrontation in the House when legislators could instead bring resolutions and take up issues affecting ordinary citizens.
Expressing concern over what he described as growing Jammu-versus-Kashmir rhetoric in the Assembly, Raina said debates surrounding Article 370 and Article 35A should not overshadow pressing public concerns.
He called for greater attention to unemployment, vacant posts in the health sector, shortages of doctors and paramedical staff, and vacancies in educational institutions.
Raina alleged that thousands of posts remain vacant across various government departments and questioned whether the government had a clear long-term strategy to address unemployment and staffing shortages, particularly in healthcare and education.
He urged every MLA to use the Assembly platform to highlight problems in their respective constituencies and pursue practical solutions.
Referring to earlier Assemblies, Raina said that, in his view, legislators had maintained greater decorum and devoted more attention to government programmes, policies and public welfare.
He further alleged that during the past two years, neither the government nor the opposition had demonstrated sufficient focus on programmes aimed at resolving people’s day-to-day problems.
Raina questioned the purpose of electing legislators if the Assembly does not adequately debate and address issues affecting ordinary citizens.
FOLLOW NOW
