Though a popular government is in place in Jammu & Kashmir but popularity of the incumbent government headed by first woman Chief Minister of the state Mehbooba Mufti is touching new lows with every passing day and the reason for declining popularity of this popular government is the enforcement of unpopular decisions. Few days after a circular issued from the office of Deputy Commissioner Srinagar imposed ban on the sale of crude boilers and other heating appliances the Mehbooba government has issued yet another unpopular circular to shut markets of Srinagar city once every week. Knowing that the government restrictions imposed in Srinagar city keep markets shut even for days together the publication of a circular in several newspapers for shutting the markets once every week speaks volumes about the administrative wisdom of the helmsmen issuing unpopular advisories only to restrict the economic activities in Srinagar city the summer capital of the state. Intentionally or unintentionally the circular issued for banning the sale of crude boilers and other heating appliance and shutting the markets once every week have to implemented in Srinagar city and both the circulars are aimed at restricting the trading activities of traders in Srinagar city. The circular issued from the office of Deputy Commissioner Srinagar directs the implementation of ban on the sale of crude boilers and heating appliances and hence the trading of the sale outlets dealing with the sales of heating appliances are likely to take a big hit and yet again another circular issued from the government directs shutting of markets in shutdown and restriction prone Srinagar area and here again the trading of Srinagar traders are likely to take a big hit again.
Unpopular decisions on the sale of crude boilers and other heating appliances and announcement of “close days” for Srinagar markets don’t show that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is giving the right treatment to Srinagar city which has been declared “ crown of Kashmir” by herself.
Though Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at the district development board meetings of Srinagar district has herself declared Srinagar the crown of Kashmir but today the government headed by her has issued two highly objectionable and controversial circulars one on the sale of crude boilers and other heating appliances and the other for restriction of the working days only for Srinagar markets . By all standards of understandabilities both the unpopular decisions by all standards of understandabilities would be severe setbacks to the trading activities of the traders in Srinagar city. At least such unpopular decisions on the sale of crude boilers and other heating appliance and announcement of “close days” for Srinagar markets don’t show that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is giving the right treatment to Srinagar city which has been declared “ crown of Kashmir” by herself. The political wisdom demands that Chief Minister intervenes and withdraws both the unpopular decisions of her government hitting the trading activities in Srinagar which in fact would be the endorsement of the views of those eye watchers in Kashmir who believe “unpopular decisions are unbecoming of popular governments”
