Tanveer Hussain
Budgam, June 26: MLA Khansahib, Advocate Saifuddin Bhat, Thursday, lashed out at authorities after he was allegedly stopped from initiating blacktopping work on a 9-kilometer stretch of the Tosamaidan road under the pretext of security concerns.
Speaking to reporters, the visibly angry legislator accused the central government of deliberately blocking development in Kashmir and ignoring the will of the people.
“I was elected by the people of Khansahib to serve them, not to seek permission from Delhi before laying roads. Today, I was not allowed to begin macadamization work on a vital stretch of the Tosamaidan road. This is unacceptable,” Bhat said.
The MLA further claimed that a tourist attempting to enter Doodhpathri was “beaten up at the gate” and denied entry, highlighting the extent of restrictions in place. “Why are our tourist spots closed? Why are locals and visitors being harassed? People here are poor and are suffering because of these unjustified restrictions,” he asked.
Bhat, according to the news agency Kashmir News Trust, made a direct appeal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging him to intervene and reopen Tosamaidan and Doodhpathri for both tourists and locals. “Decisions are being made in Delhi without consulting the ground reality or the elected representatives. This is not governance, it is control,” he asserted.
Slamming what he described as Delhi’s “disinterest” in Kashmir’s development, Bhat said, “It seems the Government of India doesn’t want progress here. They don’t care if our people suffer. But I will not let anyone become an obstacle to the blacktopping of Tosamaidan road.”
The MLA warned of mass protests if the situation continued. “If this continues, I will gather people on the ground and we will protest. I cannot sit quietly while my people are denied basic development. I have already instructed the engineers to go ahead with the macadamization. Public funds must not be wasted,” he said. [KNT]
