Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Thursday said that had Jammu and Kashmir retained statehood, "not a single house would have been razed," asserting that the elected government currently has limited powers and key decisions are being taken by the bureaucracy.
Speaking to reporters in Handwara, where he visited to offer condolences to Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid and Langate MLA Khursheed Sheikh on their father's demise, Choudhary questioned the recent demolition drive in Jammu, asking where the departments were when the structures were being built over the years.
The Deputy CM said bureaucrats were calling the shots while the elected government remained sidelined, and reiterated the demand for restoration of statehood, saying the Centre had promised its return after Assembly elections and must honour the commitment.
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