Panthers (JKNPP) protests against exploitation of youth in J&K

Jammu, 02-10-2021: Strongly condemning the exploitation and harassment of educated youth in J&K and Jammu region, in particular, scores of Panthers activists spearheaded by Mr. Harsh Dev Singh Chairman-JKNPP and former Minister staged a vociferous protest demonstration in Jammu today. While raising slogans against the BJP govt like, the infuriated protesters raised slogans like “Yuvaon ka shoshan nahin sahengey, nahin sahengey”, “Bahut ho gayi berozgari ki maar, nahin chahiye Modi sarkaar”, “BJP hai hai”. They warned the govt to immediately stop exploitation and maltreatment with Jammu youth or else be prepared to face the earth-shaking consequences.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh said that the deprivation and humiliation of Jammu youth started with the advent of BJP rule in the erstwhile state of J&K in 2014. “The discrimination, exploitation, and suppression of educated unemployed and underemployed youth continued to multiply manyfold in past seven years of Saffron rule which has now crossed all the limits”, infuriated Harsh said. Shocked over the termination of over 1600 NHM employees mostly women who were baton-charged by the JK Police while sitting on protest, Mr. Singh lampooned the Saffron slogan of “Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao” as mere ‘Jumla’, He rued that such slogans had sprinkled salts on the wounds of the daughters of the soil who were ruthlessly lathi-charged by the police for raising their genuine demands. “They fought the COVID pandemic like warriors in the deadly second wave but you terminated them instantaneously with just a stroke of a pen when the ferocious third wave is anticipated in the days to come. He reminisced that the same blunder was done by the govt during the second wave of the pandemic when 1500 employees of the health department were terminated and forced to languish on the roads. He said in the same fashion last month, 918 women helpers to supervisors engaged under the ICDS scheme of the Social Welfare Department were also terminated en masse and assaulted. He demanded reinstatement and continuation of all such aggrieved employees without any delay in the prevalent circumstances.

Expressing dismay over the weird Govt order No.265 dated 30-09-21of Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh revealed that the govt had directed the Director RDD to engage the retired engineers on a contractual basis in Rural Engineering Wing (REW). He said the impugned order has triggered anger among the highly qualified young engineers who have been aspiring for employment. “What kind of regime is running in J&K? Employees are retired to pave way for the young people to take over. But here, retired employees were offered jobs and incentives and unemployed youth were left in lurch. Is anyone there to lend ears to the shrill cries of the women and youth who were promised jobs by the BJP during the elections?”, asked Harsh.

Anguished over the thousands of  Daily Wagers, Need-based workers, and Casual labourers working in various departments including PDD, PWD, PHE, R&B, I&FC, Health & Medical Education, Forest, Horticulture, Agriculture, TDAs, Social Welfare, etc, Mr. Singh said they were forced to work like bonded labourers by the State government without paying their meager wages for the last 4-5 years. Highlighting the exploitation of thousands of ASHA workers/Anganwadi workers, Contractual teachers and lecturers, SMAGRA teachers, SPOs, Home-guards, VDC members, NYCs/NYVs, Trained pharmacists, Dental surgeons, MGNREGA employees, etc, Mr. Singh lambasted the govt for its anti-youth policies which have put their careers in jeopardy and forced them to face starvation.

“If youth were not given their due rights Panthers Party shall be forced to intensify stir along with thousands of young protesters on roads which could prove disastrous for the govt in the days to come”, roared Harsh.

Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Rajesh Padgotra, Gagan Pratap Singh, Surinder Chouhan, Ravinder Jamwal, Shankaar Singh Sanju, Vijay Kumar besides others.