Accusing the BJP Government of its failure to protect jobs and lands of the people in J&K, former Union Minister and senior All India Congress Committee (AICC) leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that party was trying to create wedge among the Paharis and Gujjars in the region.
Addressing a large public rally at Surankote town in district Poonch today, Azad said after the development of August 5, 2019, the BJP led Government failed to protect jobs and lands of the locals. He said many BJP leaders gave assurances to enact law for protecting jobs and lands of the locals from J&K, but they have totally failed to protect the same.
Without making any mention of Roshni Act, Azad referred to the issuance of notices by the Government to the people who are possessing lands for the last four-five decades, and said the landless people had been provided lands in this erstwhile State, but it is unfortunate that the present Government is making people landless and homeless. He said the people of J&K do not have much land and under the garb of development, the lands of the people are being snatched. The biggest issue before us at present is to safeguard our lands and jobs, Azad remarked.
The AICC leader said that unemployment in J&K has reached alarming situation and this Government has failed to protect jobs of the local educated youth. He cautioned the present administration to take note of the situation as the frustration is on rise among the educated youth. He urged the Government to generate more employment opportunities for the locals in J&K.
Launching a scathing attack on BJP, the Congress leader said that the party was hell bent to change the historical facts and geography of the region. He did not mention about the names of some places/sites being changed by the present Government here, but alleged that it was not healthy development. He said they must avoid such things which may create hatred and division in society.
Azad further stressed that the Government must bring a bill in the Parliament and restore Statehood to J&K. He also asked all the political parties to get united and put pressure on the present Government to announce Assembly elections in J&K after the restoration of statehood.
Training guns at BJP and some other political parties, Azad alleged that they were creating wedge among the Paharis and Gujjars for their vote bank politics. They always try to play communal card and exploit the religious sentiments of the people. He cautioned the people of Pir Panjal region not to fall prey to such political parties and defeat their nefarious designs. He advised that people should break the `walls of hatred’ and maintain peace, brotherhood and communal amity in the region.
The AICC leader further said that due to militancy, the people of this region have suffered a lot. But at the same time, they rendered full cooperation and support to the Armed forces fighting with the militants and also responding to the Pakistani shelling along the Line of Control. He said the Central Government must take good care of the people residing in these twin border districts.
Azad said Congress always stood by the people residing closer to the border districts who always remain in fore front despite ceasefire violations. These people suffered loss of life, their properties due to Pak shelling. The Government must provide them employment and adequate compensation, he added.
“We need to take more care of the border residents as they are the ones who are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our forces to safeguard the country and also suffer the major brunt in case of shelling and firing,” Azad said.
Referring to the increasing prices of LPG, petrol and diesel, Azad said this Government has failed to control inflation. The prices of essential and other commodities have gone sky high and the poor people are unable to make both ends meet. The Government must reduce tax on the fuel and other items to provide some relief to the people, he maintained.
Senior party leader and former MLA Surankote, Ch Mohd Akram also spoke on the occasion.