The phenomenon of rise in prices of essential commodities has though become a regular feature of the day to day life in the holy month of Ramadan in Kashmir valley, but the same has gone unnoticed under the present dispensation beating drums on deliverance in governance PDP-BJP coalition government. The PDP-BJP coalition government selling the dreams of good times amid the cries of financial crunch has failed to control even the prices of essentials and point to mention is the fact the worst hit by the rising prices of the essentials are the middle class people in Kashmir. This kind of unstable situation is prevailing more vigorously ever since the doctrine of “deliverance” and “fast track development” has been hyped by the present PDP-BJP coalition government. When the PDP-BJP coalition government was formed under the leadership of Mehbooba Mufti in March last year, an impression was created that people have to bear with the difficult situation in view of the financial constraints the state is facing for some months and thereafter they will be relieved of all their miseries and woes they were facing then.
Mouthing sweat words in the name of price control mechanism won’t satisfy the angered populations in Kashmir but the working of the price controlling authorities has to be supervised by the helmsmen themselves to ensure availability of essential commodities to the people at the convenient prices across Kashmir in the holly month of Ramadan.
While on one hand the exploiting ruling classes of PDP-BJP coalition running the affairs of the state are pursuing anti people and anti working class policies , they are hand spreading red carpet welcomes to union ministers and top BJP leaders to appease helmsmen in New Delhi on the other hand. The prices of vegetables and fruits in the holy month of Ramadan have though shot up by over 70% in Srinagar city and major townships of Kashmir valley , but price controlling authorities are not bothering to regulate the prices of essentials in the markets in Srinagar city and other parts of Kashmir valley. Irony of the fact is that even the prices of spices, dry fruits, clothings, detergents, medicines etc. too are soaring sky high day after day with no hold barred. Instead of checking rise in prices the government is diverting attention of the people to non issues by creating unnecessary controversies over emotive political issues like Article 370 and legislation required for the implementation of Goods & Services Tax (GST) in the state.
Though ministers and top bureaucrats hold review meetings to review the working of price control measures day in and day out, but the price controlling authorities are not visible anywhere in Srinagar city and other parts of Kashmir valley. Without tending to divert the attention of the people from the hard pressed issue of price escalation to unnecessary controversies on emotive politico- administrative issues the government has an institutional and administrative responsibility to enforce price control measures to ensure the availability of essential commodities at the convenient prices to the people at their door steps. Mouthing sweat words in the name of price control mechanisms won’t satisfy the angered populations in Kashmir but the working of the price controlling authorities has to be supervised by the helmsmen themselves to ensure availability of essential commodities to the people at the convenient prices across Kashmir in the holy month of Ramadan.
