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| Ashwani Sharma, Lonely independent has thousands supporters | | Sandeep Bhat | |
Early Times Report
It was in 2001 when thousands of people along border belts of Jammu district had to leave their homes when all of sudden they realized that their fields have been mined and Army have taken the war position-operation Parakrama. Government did not have any rehabilitation plan and people were shivering in the cold. On a visit to Bishnah those days we saw several hundreds gathered for lunch in a school building surrounded by temporary tents. It was one of several rehabilitation camps arranged by Ashwani Sharam, then a youth leader of the Congress. We could not meet him but people said, he was a 'Godsend'. Ashwani had been working in the area for quite some time. Congress did not give ticket in 2002 but Ashwani still won with a huge margin. In 2008, the poll watchers had written Ashwani off-Congress had fielded its top ranking leader a Cabinet Minister in coalition government, Gulchain Singh Charak. BJP's candidate was Shilp Verma-wife of Kuldeep Verma who allegedly committed suicide during Amarnath land agitation and the party's campaigner here was none less than Narinder Modi. As independent candidate Ashwani was against alone but his people were certainly with him.
While Congress and BJP both lost deposits, the runner up-another independent-was way behind by 6000 votes. ET Correspondent had a brief interaction with him in office. Some of the excerpts.
ET: What are your expectation from Budget?
Ashwani: There should be people friendly budget as the poor people and the farmers are finding it difficult to make both ends meet.
As you already saw the Union Budget which has broken the backbone of the poor man and people of the state are expecting good and reasonable budget which will be presented on 12th March in Legislative Assembly. No new taxes should be added and their should be incentives for farmers.
ET: You always demand separate statehood for Jammu?
Ashwani: Yes we stand by it. There is lot of discrimination with the region of Jammu right from the beginning. Whenever the funds is allotted for the state from the centre, Kashmir gets the major share. There is discrimination in every field. I don't think there is any problem for separate statehood for Jammu as it can be carved on the basis of Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh, Uttarakhand.
ET: Are you going to join congress party ?
Ashwani: No, absolutely not. This is only a rumour. I have never thought of joining congress or any other party as of now. I will continuously raise the issue of discrimination in Assembly and will help the people of my constituency.
ET: What are your comment about surrender policy?
Ashwani: It should be rehabilitation policy particularly for those effected from militancy and within constitution limits.
There is no harm in it and the concerned agencies should verify their credentials.
This policy should cover all the people including those getting killed in accidents, natural calamities etc. |
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