JAMMU, Jul 15: Decorated Army veteran Col R.K. Sharma, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Sena Medal (Retd.), on Tuesday strongly expressed concern over the growing trend of allegations and counter-allegations between the ruling dispensation and opposition parties in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that public discourse must be guided by facts, evidence and accountability rather than political rhetoric.
In a statement issued here, Col Sharma said that every serious allegation made by any political leader or party should be backed by substantial and verifiable evidence placed in the public domain. He observed that while constructive criticism and political accountability are the hallmarks of a healthy democracy, making unsubstantiated accusations weakens public confidence in democratic institutions and political leadership.
He maintained that if allegations made in public fail to withstand judicial scrutiny or are found to be baseless before a court of law, the credibility of the individuals and parties making such claims suffers irreparable damage. Such episodes, he said, also leave voters and supporters disillusioned, thereby affecting the moral authority of political leadership.
Col Sharma further remarked that repeated exchanges of unverified accusations create an atmosphere of political uncertainty, divert attention from pressing issues concerning governance and development, and diminish the quality of democratic debate. He said that people expect their elected representatives to focus on policy, public welfare and solutions to everyday challenges rather than engaging in prolonged political mudslinging.
Emphasising the need for responsible public conduct, he said political leaders, irrespective of party affiliation, should exercise restraint while making public statements and ensure that any allegation involving corruption, inducement, abuse of office or other serious misconduct is supported by credible documentary or material evidence.
“The strength of democracy lies not merely in the freedom to make allegations but in the responsibility to substantiate them,” Col Sharma said, adding that transparent, evidence-based politics would strengthen public trust, uphold the dignity of democratic institutions and contribute to more effective governance.
He urged both the ruling establishment and the opposition to uphold the highest standards of political ethics and accountability, stating that mature democratic engagement rooted in facts and constitutional values alone can inspire public confidence and ensure stable, transparent and people-centric governance in Jammu and Kashmir.