‘My fight for statehood, land, job rights for locals will never stop’
STATE TIMES NEWS
KUPWARA: Democratic Azad Party chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday said that the developmental projects approved and executed during his short tenure as J&K chief Minister in Kupwara district have changed the infrastructural landscape of this border region. He said since then no government in power ever could match the developmental pace and all the benefits people took were being sanctioned or executed during his tenure only.
‘Assembly elections in J&K be held within 6 months, can’t wait till 2024’
KUPWARA: Democratic Azad Party (DAP) chief Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday said the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir should be held within the next six months as people cannot wait till 2024.
He said holding of the elections was important to take J-K out of economic and political crisis.
“We do not want to wait for 2024. We have been waiting for change for the last so many years,” Azad told reporters in Kupwara district in north Kashmir. The former Congress leader said there was no need to dissolve the J-K assembly in 2018. But after it was done, the elections should have followed in six months, he added.
“When it was done, there was no terrorism in the state, there was no tension, and the elections should have taken place within six months. However, almost five years have gone by since then, many things, which were unthinkable, happened,” Azad said.
Things like abrogation of Article 370, downgrading of such an old state and its division, which were unthinkable, took place, he added.
Azad said “untoward things” happened in these five years “because of which, the situation in every respect in our state became worse”.
“Then, there is no representative, no MLA, no minister, no chief minister, where will people go? There are no doctors, no teachers, no roads, no employment, whom will the people approach. So, every person here is frustrated, be it labourers, youth – who are into drugs after securing high education,” he said.
The former Union minister said “to take this state out of an economic and political crisis, the elections should be held in the next six months whenever the weather gets better. 2024 is very far”.
Azad said if his party is elected to power after the elections take place, “we will ensure that jobs and land rights are secured for local people”.
“Our fight for the rights of local people will continue. But if you are in power you negotiate from the position of strength, so winning elections will help us to strengthen our resolve to bargain for our people,” he added.
Azad said development projects approved and executed in Kupwara district during his short tenure as chief minister have changed the infrastructural landscape of the border region.
Since then, no government in power ever could match the development pace and all the benefits people take out of facilities were sanctioned or executed during my tenure only, he added.
“Tell me what they did to benefit people. You have got 15 major bridges spanning around 200 to 100 mtrs. 200 bedded district hospital at Kupwara, Degree College for boys and girls, 200 bedded Hospital at Handwara, 100 bedded hospital at Kralpora, Degree College at Handwara, PMGSY roads worth Rs 200 crores, District Administration complex, Rural Development complex,” Azad reminded the people about his golden developmental era during his public rally.
He challenged the political parties and asked them to show what they did during their tenure.
“Things shall be crystal clear for people. Whatever I did for people I mention it today proudly. Other political parties must also come clear with their track record and let’s see who stands where,” he challenged all political parties without naming any one.
Azad said that now his party has yet another political battle to fight for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“If we are elected to power after the elections take place, we will ensure the jobs and land rights are secured for local people,” he said.
“Our fight for the rights of local people will continue but if you are in power, you negotiate from the position of strength. So winning elections will help us to strengthen our resolve to bargain for our people,” he added.
Azad said that the economic situation of Jammu and Kashmir is concerning him. When he was the Chief Minister of the erstwhile state, no Kashmiri was forced to go outside for a job, he added.
“But now the trend is upsetting since mostly the labourers don’t get jobs here and are forced to migrate to the mainland to earn livelihood. Our economy is in a deep crisis,” he said.
DAP chairman said that there is also a governance deficit prevalent on many fronts.
“Hospitals lack facilities, doctors are missing from duties in many hospitals. Teachers are not available to teach students and no one is caring at all. There is a complete governance deficit,” he said.
The public meeting was organised by Senior DAP leader Munner Ahmed Mir.
Other DAP leaders present on the occasion included former Minister Peerzada Mohammad Syed, Former Ministers Taj Mohiuddin and G.M.Saroori, Ex MLA Haji Abdul Rashid besides Salman Nizami, Shafiq Shabnam, Javid Mir, Amir Rasool, Adv Rafiq Sogami and others.
