Srinagar, Jul 31 (KNS): Senior leader of the Jammu & Kashmir Anjuman-e-Sharie Shian, Hujjat-ul-Islam wal-Muslimeen Aga Syed Mujtaba Abbas Mosavi Al-Safavi, on Friday voiced grave concern over the continuing hardships faced by the residents of Dal Mir Bahri, asserting that any attempt to deprive, marginalise, or deny the community its constitutional and fundamental rights is wholly unacceptable.
In a statement issued here, Aga Syed Mujtaba said it is deeply regrettable that the people living along the shores of the world-famous Dal Lake continue to suffer from decades of official neglect despite residing in one of Kashmir's most prominent locations. Thousands of families, he said, remain deprived of basic civic amenities, including safe drinking water, proper roads, drainage, healthcare, quality education, housing, and other essential public services that are the legitimate right of every citizen.
He stressed that genuine development must improve people's lives rather than make them more difficult. Any policy or developmental project that adversely affects the daily lives, livelihoods, mobility, education, healthcare, or traditional rights of local residents must be reviewed with fairness, transparency, and public consultation. Development, he maintained, cannot be meaningful if it comes at the cost of human dignity and public welfare.
Aga Syed Mujtaba further observed that while the protection and conservation of Dal Lake is a collective responsibility, environmental preservation must never become a justification for ignoring the legitimate rights and welfare of the indigenous communities that have lived around the lake for generations. Sustainable development, he said, must safeguard both the environment and the rights of the people through balanced, humane, and inclusive policies.
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Calling upon the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor's Administration, and all concerned departments, he urged the authorities to immediately address the longstanding grievances of the residents of Mir Bahri through meaningful dialogue and concrete action. He demanded the urgent provision of clean drinking water, improved road connectivity, modern drainage, quality healthcare and educational facilities, and all other essential civic infrastructure, while ensuring that no administrative decision infringes upon the community's constitutional rights, livelihoods, or traditional access.
He stated that the true measure of a democratic government lies in its commitment to justice and equitable development, particularly for historically neglected communities. The continued denial of basic public services to the people of Mir Bahri, he said, is a matter of serious concern that requires immediate and effective intervention.
Concluding his statement, Aga Syed Mujtaba declared that the people of Dal Mir Bahri are not alone, and that the Anjuman-e-Sharie Shian will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with them until their legitimate rights are protected and they receive the justice, dignity, development, and equal opportunities guaranteed to every citizen under the Constitution.
He expressed hope that the Government would act with sensitivity, fairness, and resolve to restore public confidence and ensure that the people of Mir Bahri become equal partners in the region's development rather than its forgotten victims. (KNS)