12/10/2026
Six Assembly Sessions, Yet No Relief for North Kashmir: “Are the People of Lolab Not Human?Ishrat Bhat
Apni Party Spokesperson Ishrat Bhat today raised serious questions over the continued lack of basic infrastructure and development in North Kashmir, particularly in Lolab, and said that despite six Assembly sessions in the last two years, people on the ground are still waiting for basic relief.
“North Kashmir cannot be remembered only when votes are needed. The people here are equally citizens of Jammu and Kashmir and deserve dignity, healthcare, roads, education, employment and basic facilities,” Ishrat Bhat said.
She said that the situation in Lolab, particularly in areas like Lalpora and Dardpora, remains a matter of serious concern.
“Take Lalpora, for example. There is a huge population dependent on very limited healthcare facilities. When a serious patient arrives, there is often no adequate facility to manage the case locally. The patient is referred from one place to another and ultimately may have to travel towards Handwara or Srinagar. For a patient in critical condition, this delay can become a matter of life and death,” she said.
Bhat said that people of remote areas should not have to travel long distances for basic healthcare.
“Are we not human beings? Are the people of Lalpora, Dardpora and the rest of Lolab not entitled to the same basic facilities as people elsewhere? If our people give their valuable votes, they have every right to ask where the promised development is,” she said.
On the Lolab-Bandipora connectivity issue, Bhat said that the project has remained a long-standing demand of the people and should not remain confined to political statements and assurances.
“The Lolab-Bandipora road and connectivity is not merely a road issue. It is directly linked with healthcare, education, trade, tourism and employment opportunities for our youth. Better connectivity would reduce the travel burden on ordinary people and open new economic opportunities for the region,” she said.
She acknowledged that the issue has been raised in the Assembly, but stressed that people now need clarity on the actual status of the project and a concrete, time-bound roadmap rather than repeated assurances.
Bhat also called for focused investment in Lolab, including a dedicated maternity hospital, upgraded healthcare infrastructure and a higher educational institution/university-level facility in the area.
“Our MLA is the representative of the entire Lolab Assembly constituency. Lalpora is part of Lolab, Dardpora is part of Lolab, and every remote village is equally entitled to representation and development. The responsibility of a public representative is to ensure that no area is left behind,” she said.
Bhat further expressed concern that ordinary people continue to struggle with basic administrative work while those with influence often find their matters moving faster.
“An ordinary citizen should not have to move from one office to another and from one department to another just to get a basic legitimate work done. Governance must be measured by how effectively it serves the common citizen, especially those living in remote and underserved areas,” she said.
She urged the government to move beyond announcements and prepare a clear, time-bound development roadmap for North Kashmir, with specific focus on healthcare, road connectivity, employment, education and basic public infrastructure.
“People of North Kashmir do not want promises alone. They want their legitimate rights and basic facilities delivered on the ground,” Ishrat Bhat said.
