Expressing deep concern over the alleged governance deficit which has added to the sufferings of people in Jammu and Kashmir, Apni Party (AP) on Thursday said Lt Governor rule is no replacement to an elected government in the Union Territory (UT).

Addressing a meeting of party workers from Batmaloo constituency at party headquarter office at The Bund in Lal Chowk Srinagar, former minister and senior AP leader Ghulam Hassan Mir said the Lt Governor�s rule can never be a replacement to an elected government.

�One of the most important roles of Peoples� representatives in a popular government is to promote greater responsiveness and accountability to citizens and reflecting citizens� voice in local public service delivery. This important benefit of a democratic set up is presently missing in J&K,� he observed.
Mir said that the people across both the divisions of J&K are facing a lot of problems due to the no-existence of an elected government. �Since their plight is going unheard, the same has resulted in deep disenchantment and alienation among people.�

Stressing on the need for restoration of Statehood, the AP leader said the government of India as per its promise made by the union home minister on the floor of Parliament should restore the Statehood to J&K in order to address the growing disconnect between the people and the apparatus of governance.
The leader said that there is a general feeling among people of J&K about the absence of a credible voice that could take up their issues and get them sorted out. Mir said that AP believes in building bridges across the regions and sub-regions in J&K so that this region touches new heights in socio-economic development.

Expressing serious concern over the recent political killings in J&K, Mir said the political ecosystem of Kashmir needs to be safeguarded for the larger interests of the democratic process in the region. �The government must take concrete measures to address the issues and problems faced by the political activists who along with their families have become soft targets of mindless violence,� he added.