STATE TIMES NEWS
ARNIA: Apni Party on Sunday organised a series of public meetings in border villages of Arnia in Jammu district and they listened to the grievances of the people.
Led by Apni Party Senior Vice President and former Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir, the Jammu based senior leaders including Provincial President, Manjit Singh, Provincial President Women Wing Namrta Sharma, Ex-MLA Bishnah Kamal Arora¸ Party Coordinator for Jammu Central, Pranav Shagotra among others visited several villages in Arnia and interacted with the people impressive public meetings.
Speaking in one of the public meetings at Allah village in Arnia in support of District Development Council (DDC) candidate Ramandeep, the Apni Party Senior Vice President Ghulam Hassan Mir said that “The Party believes in unity of two regions of Jammu and Kashmir like it remained traditionally. The political parties which are playing divisive and regional politics for their political gains will never succeed.”
“We believe that the people of J&K should remain united to fight for protection of their rights i.e. jobs and land,” said Mir and hoped that the people will understand that the unity will bring prosperity and peace in J&K.
Mir said “Apni Party believes neither in regionalism nor in communalism. We believe that people of Jammu as well as of Kashmir have issues and such issues should be resolved in a peaceful manner.”
After the removal of special status, he said “People in J&K have become disempowered as statehood has been eroded. With the restoration of statehood to J&K, the people of the erstwhile state will be empowered.”
He said that “the border people are facing difficulties because of hostility and therefore, the families should be provided safer places. In view of growing unemployment among the youth in border areas, the government should start special recruitment in the army and other security forces for the youth.”
The former Minister and Apni Party Provincial President Manjit said that the BJP had promised 5 Marla plots to each family of International Border. However, their promise remained unfulfilled.
“The border residents have to face troubles during border tension in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts. The party stands with the demand of the people for safer places to each of the family living close to the border,” said Manjit.
He said that the unemployment among the educated youth in the border belt has increased and it should be addressed by the people.
On this occasion, Women Wing’s Provincial President, Namrta Sharma extended support to the women of the border villages and appreciated their courage in supporting their respective families during the times of border tension.
“Women have always played an important role in society. The women in the border belt of Jammu and other districts should be provided some special training to make them self-dependent by the Government,” said Namrta.
During the ongoing District Development Council (DDC) elections, Namrta said, the women have been given an opportunity to emerge as leaders and represent their respective areas.
Namrta appealed to people to vote and support the women candidate of the party and assured that the party will fight for their cause.
Speaking on the occasion, Ex-MLA and senior leader Kamal Arora said that “The border belt needs reform and revamp for the development of the neglected areas. The people have potential but the slackness on part of the Government has affected the normal lives of the people.”
He said that people still work in the industrial sector, do jobs as driver vehicles or in their fields as farmers.
“There is a need for innovation and involvement of government schemes in promotion of horticulture and agriculture. The rice of Bishnah is world famous and still, the Government’s interest lacks,” alleged Arora.
Speaking on the occasion, Party Coordinator for Jammu Central, Pranav Shagotra said that the party opposes any kind of further division of J&K and claimed that “There is anger among the people about the downgrading of J&K into a Union Territory. The snatching of all rights has affected people badly and the Union Government should not further delay restoration of statehood.”
Prominent among the Apni Party leaders who participated in the meetings included Vaibhav Mattoo, Vishal Zutshi, Farooq Ahmed, Pavneet Kour, Sarpanch of Allah Kamlesh Rani, Dalbir Singh and others.