Srinagar: Various pro-India political parties in India Occupied Kashmir (IOC) including Congress, PDP and NPP raised their voice, demanding restoration of statehood to J&K and termed August 5 decision of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government as dark day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, while Youth Congress, NSUI and PDP held strong protests projecting this issue.
Questioning BJP and Centre Govt as to what has changed for the betterment of people of J&K and nation, two years after August 5, 2019 decision, J&K Pradesh Congress has said that the promise of 50,000 Govt jobs in three months and opening private sector for jobs, was a big bluff and joke with the educated youth of J&K.
Addressing a press conference at PCC office here, party chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma along with former minister and vice president Raman Bhalla, general secretary Balwan Singh(Ex-MLA), Yogesh Sawhney (Ex-Minister) and Manmohan Singh, questioned what has changed for the benefit and betterment of people of Jammu and Kashmir, as J&K has lost its identity, rights and protections available to its residents which are available in various other states in the country too, in one or other form.
Referring to the claims of BJP, the Congress leaders questioned whether the number the jobs in Govt and private sector have increased, big industrial houses have come to J&K, the situation has normalized, Kashmiri Pandits can safely return, the gap between hearts and distance from Kashmir and Delhi (Dil ki aur Dilon Ki Doori) has been reduced and what else has been achieved, after two years of the decision, they questioned.
They said violence in Jammu and Kashmir escalated since 2014 with sharp rise in numbers during BJP-PDP regime and same could not be eliminated so far. The 50, 000 jobs in Govt sector in three months, announced in Aug 2019 was a great bluff and joke with educated unemployed youth, while no private sector jobs were created in Jammu and Kashmir in two years.
Where are claims of the floodgates of private investments and creation of large scale jobs in private sector, as nothing of this sort has been witnessed. The local traders, contractors, businessmen and transporters are loosing business opportunities to outside residents, especially in Jammu region, so who has been benefitted by this decision, Congress questioned, while strongly criticizing the disbanding and downgrading of historical state into UT.
Meanwhile, NSUI and PYC activists staged strong protest demonstration against BJP Government and termed Aug 5 decision of BJP as dark day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. NSUI national president Neeraj Kundan and Pradesh Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib were leading the protest. Senior leaders Sunny Parihar and Karan Bhagat besides others were also accompanied them.
The youth activists raised loud slogans against Modi Govt and demanded restoration of statehood to J&K. When they tried to take out large protest rally towards Raj Bhawan, a strong contingent of police arrested over 50 activists and shifted them to DPL Gandhinagar in a bus. However, they were later released in the afternoon.
Former Union Minister and veteran Congress leader Prof Saifuddin Soz alleged that it was totally wrong for the Modi Govt to celebrate the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India.
“I am sure a day will come, when people like Modi will realize that it is the peoples’ will that will prevail, ultimately. The people of J&K State cannot compromise with their Principle that Article 370 represented their aspirations. The people will, therefore, continue to struggle for restoration of Article 370 of the Constitution of India,” he added.
Senior Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand said that the Prime Minister had promised the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the floor of the Parliament that he would return full statehood to the J&K, now he should fulfill his promise as soon as possible.
Addressing public meeting at Akhnoor, Tara Chand said that people of J&K feel betrayed by the downgrading of the historic state and deprived of the rights to land and jobs. He said that Congress party would intensify struggle for the restoration of statehood with protection to jobs and lands for the locals of J&K. He said that lust for power could lead the BJP to compromise with the Jammu pride and dignity. He accused the BJP of undermining the understanding and political sagacity of the people of Jammu. Web Desk
