Srinagar, June 28, KNT: In a glaring example of disconnect between the ruling lawmakers and the people they claim to represent, the news agency Kashmir News Trust (KNT) made repeated efforts to reach out to several sitting MLAs of the National Conference, the party in power in Jammu and Kashmir. Not a single legislator bothered to pick up the phone or return the call.
This isn’t just about media access. If a recognized news agency is stonewalled, one can only imagine the frustration of the ordinary citizen trying to raise genuine issues. These are the very MLAs whom people queued up to vote for, men and women who promised to be accessible, accountable, and responsive. Today, they appear to be completely out of reach.
In a democracy, elected representatives are expected to remain in touch with the ground. But this disturbing trend suggests that for many MLAs, once the power is secured, public communication becomes an afterthought.
It is important to acknowledge that amidst this wall of silence, it was the Advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Nasir Aslam Wani, who showed basic courtesy and responsibility by returning the call and enquiring about the concern. His gesture, though small, stands in stark contrast to the indifference of the others.
The reality remains that trying to contact the Chief Minister himself is now akin to wishing for a satellite ride to the moon. This level of inaccessibility at the top only worsens the growing trust deficit between the people and their elected government.
Kashmir needs leaders who listen, not hide behind silence. The public deserves more than just empty promises; they deserve presence, accountability, and above all, a voice that responds.
Even the PDP legislators, including Waheed Parra, care a fig and never bother to pick up the phone. He is always interested in X, where you are free to avoid any question. [KNT]
