Ever since the Modi led Bhartiya Janta Party took over in Delhi power house, Kashmir has been at the centre of its policy. It was in the beginning of its second tenure in 2019, that certain massive political decisions including abrogation of Article 370, downsizing state into Union territory and splitting Ladakh from the region as separate UT were taken.
As part of its agenda, Narender Modi and his close confidante and Union Home Minister Amit Shah strongly spoke against the prevailing corruption in erstwhile state and bureaucratic highhandedness. Following the massive decisions, the Government which was barred initially to direct intervene into state affairs took the direct control now into the matters of administration.
The major decision to reform the administration, New Delhi took control of local anti graft body after restructuring and renaming it as Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB). It has also given direct access to National Investigation Agency (NIA) which has been investigation number of cases related to militancy and terror funding in Union territory.
Many raids were also being conducted and the recent one is in Pattan Baramulla. It has been investigating the bloodiest Lethpora suicide attack of February 14, 2019 besides LoC trade from Uri. In the past NIA arrested many people in connection with the trade after conducting many raids in Baramulla and elsewhere in Jammu Kashmir.
Even amid the difference of political opinion, there is a consensus strongly built across the society that corruption to be dealt in the strongest possible way. If there are opinions that Kashmir has been facing troubles owing to its political uncertainty, however, it is also a fact that the prevailing corruption and the backdoor funding in various socioeconomic sectors have added fuel to it.
The Enforcement Directorate had played a laudable role in Kashmir in cracking one of the high profile money laundering cases sometime back in which big shots were held and are languishing in jails. Now the action against the corrupt people who have deeply infiltrated and ruined our society must e taken to the legal course.
A decisive war against corruption must continue to go and NIA which is premier and an autonomous body enjoys complete backing from the regime of the day. While the government is aiming to take the fight to next level against corruption it has also approved the creation of another department under ACB Economic Offence Wing that will be looking after the offences created in economic sectors of valley.
Strengthening the anti graft bodies, investigating agencies and minimizing the role of local bureaucracy and political leaders who were easily influencing such departments is setting the hopes high among common people.
With the beginning of this war against corruption, New Delhi must understand that it will face a tough journey now since the whole of the bureaucracy will put the road blocks. And how the things move on from here will be depending upon the Union of India for the peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.
