AAP leaders hold meet, discuss J&K scenario

Jammu, 31-01-2023:  The AAP leaders of J&K held an emergency meeting today under the Chairmanship of Mr. Harsh Dev Singh at Jammu to take stock of the prevalent scenario in the UT in the wake of mal-governance of the present regime which had sparked massive outrage in various parts of the erstwhile state. The meeting dwelt at length over the deteriorating law and order in J&K, development inertia, growing unemployment, burgeoning corruption and the culpable apathy shown by the govt towards the burning issues of the common masses. The meeting was convened at the behest of Provincial President of Kashmir unit Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Khan and other party leaders of the team. It was attended among others by several senior leaders of AAP including Sh. Yashpaul Kundal (Ex-Minister); S. Deep Singh (Founder member); Major General (rtd.) Jagdish Singh Jamwal; Farooq Banday Chief Engineer (rtd.) & Ex-bureaucrats; Ram Singh Chouhan; Kuldip Kumar Rao; Mir Mudasir; Dr. Ayoub Matoo; G.N Parray; Abdul Hamid Bhat; Fayaz Ahmed; Waseem Ahmed; Amit Langer besides others.

Speaking on the occasion, Major General (rdt.) Jamwal and S. Deep Singh expressed concern over the gradual deterioration in security scenario and the failure of the govt to curb militancy in the erstwhile state which had consumed several precious lives including those of innocent civilians. They emphasized the need for early restoration of statehood and restoration of democratic govt which alone could steer the people out of the present crisis.

Dr. Mustafa Khan and Dr. Ayoub Matoo strongly condemned the govt for launching eviction drive against the poor and marginalized sections of society and for bulldozing the houses of indigent masses thereby rendering them homeless. They accused the govt of adopting double standards with regard to provision of security to the political leadership and ignoring opposition leaders despite their vulnerability.

Kuldip Rao and R.S Chouhan said that there were two separate sets of laws in J&K. One for BJP and another for opposition leaders and common masses. While the BJP leaders were being treated as state guests and free govt accommodation with huge security paraphernalia was provided to them at state expose, the opposition leaders especially of AAP were being subjected to most hostile discrimination by the helmsmen ruling the roost.

Yashpaul Kundal drew the attention of the members towards the stalled development and rampaging corruption which had become all pervasive. He appealed to all the activists of the party to rake up the issues of the public and make the govt functionaries accountable for their mis-deeds and non-governance.

Harsh Dev Singh said that an elected popular govt. alone was the panacea for many of the ills afflicting the system in the new set up in J&K. The outside bureaucrats who had hardly any knowledge about the peculiar features of the State, its varied culture, topography, history, language, geography and other distinguishing traits could not be the substitute for a legitimate elected government. They could only add to the prevailing confusion and instability, said Mr. Singh while urging upon the centre to hand over the reins of power to the people of J&K who had been wrongfully deprived of their democratic and other Constitutional guarantees.

 “With no takers for the woes and sufferings of the people, the govt was thriving on fake announcements and fictional accounts of its achievements with nothing tangible to be seen on the ground. People suffered the worst nightmares due to the power and water crisis. The govt failed to act. The people of remote areas continue to suffer ration problems with no takers for their repeated requests and reminders. Several houses and other residential units of poor indigent masses have been dismantled and their marginal land holdings retrieved by the govt on the pretext of encroachments. The daily rated workers of PHE, PWD, Power, I&FC are without wages for several months with none to pay attention to their pathetic plight. The unemployed educated youth including REK and NYC were on the roads. The MGNREGA liability has exceeded one thousands crore during the last 5-6 years but none in the govt is there to even console the poor labourers. The academic activity in remote village schools has been paralysed due to acute deficiency of teaching staff. The corruption has become all pervasive with none to question those indulging in open loot and plunder of the states’ resources. And those who have the temerity to question are dubbed as anti-nationals. But despite all this the govt was indulging in incessant chest thumping and claiming to have brought about revolutionary changes. And dissent was being muzzled through the coercive apparatus of the state. The fact of the matter was that the general masses were feeling suffocated and suppressed under the dictatorial policies of the current regime ruling the roost by evading democratic process”, maintained Mr. Harsh Dev Singh. He appealed to the party rank and file to strengthen the party which alone could provide a people friendly govt in J&K.