Congress asks Home Minister to clear stand on Statehood restoration without delay
Jammu Feb. 05 : On the eve of the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee today intensified its attack on the Centre government for the inordinate delay in the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
While the PCC President Shri Tariq Hameed Karra vociferously raised the issue of statehood seeking a clear time line during the course of his speech in the Assembly today on the motion of thanks to the LG’s address, the Senior leaders of JK PCC Led by Working President Raman Bhalla, Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma and Former MLC Ved Mahajan strongly demanded the Home Minister to clear stand over the restoration of statehood promised by him on the floor of the house more than 6 years ago.
Addressing a Press Conference at PCC HQ here today, the senior Congress leaders asked the Home Minister to answer to the people of Jammu and Kashmir as to why there is delay in the announcement of the promised statehood even after more than one and half years of the elected government taking over,
Shri Bhalla said that people feel betrayed and are fed up with the false promises of the BJP led centre Govt. over the issue of most popular and genuine demand of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He criticised and rejected the divisive voices being raised over the issue from within BJP and said that congress stands for the unity and integrity of Jammu and Kashmir.
Bhall also questioned the delay in the relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected people as after more than 8 months of the devastation no relief and rehabilitation of the affected people has taken place while it is the second visit of the Home Minister after the floods causing huge loss to the large number of people. He also raised the issue of security situation which is matter of concern and the sense of insecurity is several rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir and also demanded adequate security to the opposition leaders and functionaries active in the field.
Elaborating further JKPCC Chief Spokesperson Mr. Ravinder Sharma lashed out at BJP for betraying the refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971. They are still waiting for the implementation of the package recommended by the NC Congress Govt. in 2014 to the Centre Govt. for their one time settlement as only meagre amount of 5.5 Lakhs have been sanctioned against Rs.30 Lakhs, aswellas other components of the package.
Expressing gratitude to the PCC President Shri Tariq Hameed Karra for raising the issue of refugees as well as Kashmiri migrants in the house today who are suffering a lot because of the neglect by the BJP Govt at the Centre.
The congress leaders also raised the issue of closure of Shri Mata Devi Institute of Medical Excellence , terming the decision as a blunder causing huge loss to the future generations of the region and demanding its reopening with necessary amendments /rectifications, the leaders also questioned the fate of around 300 employees engaged in the institute.
Referring to the issue of National Law University, the congress demanded that two NLUs be sanctioned for both the regions on the pattern of two central universities set up by the UPA Govt. in both regions. They also rejected and condemned the insensitive remarks by the LOP regarding the Peer Panjal, stating that the aspirations of each and every region and sub-region should be respected by all for the broader unity and integrity.
The congress leaders also demanded that the long pending issues of the daily wagers, need based contractual and other temporary employees regarding regularization and better service conditions need to be addressed collectively to bring them out of the sufferings and other issues like large scale unemployment poverty, inflation should receive the priority attention of the govt. and the house at the moment instead of diversionary tactics .
