Naeem Akhtar (politician)

Syed Naeem Akhtar Andrabi is an Indian politician from the state of Jammu and Kashmir. He is a member of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council as a candidate of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party. He is also the minister of public works in the Mehbooba Mufti government.

Syed Naeem Akhtar Andrabi
Member of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council
In office
7 March 2013 – August 2019 (council dissloved)
Personal details
NationalityIndian
Political partyJammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party
ResidenceBandipora, Jammu and Kashmir, India[1]
Alma materUniversity of Kashmir (BSc)[1]
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionCivil servant[1]
PortfolioMinistry of Public works

Political career

In 2010, during the 2010 Kashmir unrest, Akhtar, the then spokesman of the party used to criticise the National Conference party and chief minister Omar Abdullah.[2]

Akhtar was elected to the Legislative Council on 7 March 2013 as a Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party candidate.[3] In 2015, Akhtar was made the Education Minister in the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed government.[4]

In September 2015, Akhtar installed a helpline number to his personal office to hear complaints from the stakeholders, namely parents, teachers and students concerned.[5] He has also advocated for the separation of politics and education.[6]

In February 2017, in a cabinet reshuffle, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti gave Akhtar the portfolio of "Public Works Department", with Altaf Bukhari getting his portfolio.[7]

Views

Goods and services tax

About the Goods and Services Tax, Akhtar said that the government would introduce a bill in the assembly for its implementation. He has said that goods would be cheaper due to the GST as it would bring an end to the system of double taxation.[8]

Personal life

Akhtar was a critic of the 2016 Kashmir unrest. He was threatened by militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba as he reopened schools which were closed during the unrest.[9]

In August 2016, Akhtar's Srinagar residence was attacked as a petrol bomb was thrown towards it.[10]

Abid Ansari, a legislator from his party, has blamed Akhtar for "spoiling the party" and has accused him of working under external agency.[2]

References
  1. "Syed Naeem Akhtar Andrabi". My Neta. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  2. "Naeem Akhtar: The rise of an outsider in PDP". News Despatch. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  3. "Naeem Akhtar takes oath as MLC". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  4. "Naeem Akhtar Inducted in J&K Ministry". Outlook India. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  5. "Akhtar sets up helpline". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  6. "Keep politics out of education: Naeem Akhtar". Kashmir Reader. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  7. "Altaf Bukhari new education minister, Naeem Akhtar Public Works, Basharat is Horticulture Minister". The Kashmir Monitor. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  8. "GST in J&K only after thorough discussion in Assembly: Naeem Akhtar". Kashmir Reader. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  9. "LeT threat to Jammu and Kashmir Education minister Naeem Akhtar, security beefed-up". Indian Express. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  10. "Petrol bombs hurled at J&K Education Minister Naem Akthar's house". Indian Express. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
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