EARly Times Report
Jammu, Oct 16: Former J&K Chief Minister and DAP Chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday reiterated that restoration of J&K’s statehood, protection of land and job rights of its natives, and the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits is core agenda of his political party. This was stated by him while addressing huge workers convention in Kathua today. On this occasion nearly hundreds women and youth joined DAP in his presence. Prominent among those present on the ocassion include Tara Chand, Former Dy Chief Minister, RS Chib, Former Minister and General Secretary DAP, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, Former Minister, Chy Gharu Ram, Former Minister, Ghulam Haider Malik, Former Dy Speaker, Subash Gupta, Former MLC, Sr Adv MK Bhardwaj, President JK High Court Bar Association, Vinod Mishera, Sobit Ali and Gorab Chopra Corporates, Aradhana Andotra, Brejeshwar Singh Indu Chairman BDC, Kulbhushan, Former Chairman MC Nagri Adv Ajat Shatru Sharma, Bar President Kathua, SP Chandyal,Sh Anil Sharma Founder Member, Sr leader DAP, Arjun Singh,Founder Member, Sr Leader DAP and Krishan Sapolia,Founder Member, DAP, Vinay Sharma Sarpanch, Kulbhushan Singh Sarpanch, Kewal Sharma, Thakur Bhuddi Singh, Ramesh Verma, Ramesh Sapolia, Ramesh Sharma Sarpanch, Ram Lal Patti, Rajinder Verma Sarpanch beside others.
Speaking on the ocassion, Azad exhorted the Democratic Azad Party (DAP) leaders to hit the ground and launch a mass contact programme to mobilise public support for the party ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections.He said that DAP is committed to strengthen the communal harmony and social fabric. All the leaders took a pledge to strengthen the party at the grass root level.“Our party is committed to assuage the urges and aspirations of every segment of the society in all the regions and sub-regions”, Azad said, adding that the cadre must reach out to the people and help them to get solutions to their problems. We will try to work out a strong front to provide good governance to the people. “If I will get the opportunity to serve people of J&K, I promise you no innocent will be killed, all living here irrespective of religion will be safe. Statehood will be restored, job and land rights to people of J&K and two crore tourists will come to Kashmir and everyone will get employment,” Azad added. In Jammu, people are worried over the delay in restoring statehood. He said the BJP must not procrastinate on the matter. “After delimitation of assembly seats, statehood must be restored,” he said. “We need it back, so that our own people can run the administration.” He said assembly polls could wait. “First, the statehood needs to be restored; then elections can be held,” he said. “The economy of J&K, it goes without saying, is at the brink of collapse. There is no sector of its economy -- be it tourism, horticulture, transport, or trade -- that hasn’t suffered losses in the past two years,” Azad said. There are thousands of unemployed medics, paramedics, engineers, graduates and post graduates waiting for job openings,” he said. “The situation has become much worse as the industrial sector, which is supposed to absorb the unemployed youths, continues to struggle,” he added.He said what little opportunities were provided by local tourism, manufacturing, handicraft and transportation sectors, have also been “clogged by mishandling of situation.
Former Dy CM Tara Chand speaking on the occasion said that “People of J-K need the services of an experienced politician and a stalwart like Azad. Expressing confidence that more senior leaders will strengthen the hands of Azad in the coming days, he said leaders from various parties are also in touch with them and you will see more and more joinings in the coming weeks”.”People are not happy with the present dispensation, especially after it downgraded the erstwhile state. We require youth and experienced people to pull out J-K from the present crisis, to generate employment opportunities and resolve people’s issues, Chand said. Bureaucratic rule, Chand contended, has obstructed the development prospectus in the entire region. “Bureaucrats not being subjected to any kind of accountability seem to care little about the issues concerning people in general,” he said.
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