STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Former Minister and Senior National Conference leader Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Tuesdsay blamed the BJP for disempowering people in general and youth in particular by robbing their jobs after scrapping the unique identity of Jammu and Kashmir. The people of Jammu feel let-down and betrayed due to contemptuous assault on their sensitivities, he said and referred to ignoring the winter capital for holding the G-20 conclave, a most important international event, as rightly and sagaciously pointed out by the National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah. He said the people are feeling marginalized after down-grading the status of Jammu and Kashmir to a Union Territory and opening up its jobs and lands for non-state subjects. In this context, he referred to the lands being allotted to non-state subjects and even 336 low income group flats handed over to non-local labourers under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (Urban) Mission in the Sunjwan area. Local poor people have been deprived of housing facilities.
“This is indication of the events to follow”, Sadhotra said, adding that the main brunt of August 5, 2019 political developments is being faced by Jammu. The BJP has failed in addressing the concerns of the people, raised by the National Conference from time to time, as they are not sincere towards the urges and aspirations of the people in this part of the country.
Describing eligibility to jobs and ownership of lands as the most emotive and sensitive issue, he said one after another decision raises many serious questions on the intentions of the BJP and the Centre. The people are genuinely feeling let down in the wake of one after another inimical move of the administration. The governments, both at the Centre and here are not walking the talk, which is evident first by the issuance of domicile rules and their implementation that have pushed the permanent residents to the wall. The domicile rules have put a question mark on the future of local educated youth, who are already facing the brunt of burgeoning unemployment. This concern should, in fact, have been addressed by the Government on priority and much earlier but the element of continued dilemma is making the young restive, he added. Cautioning against extending olive branches to the outsiders like rule relaxations for jobs and allotment of flats and demining business, Sadhotra said this will hurt the Jammu division most due to its proximity with other states and relatively peaceful environs. He said the fear about leasing out jobs to outsiders at the cost of the legitimate rights of permanent residents is now a reality. This is going to be detrimental for the future of the educated unemployed, who have scarce avenues due to the absence of an organised private sector. Every single job going to the so-called ‘outsider domicile’ will be blocking the future of our youngsters, he added.
Sadhotra has counselled the BJP not to test the patience of J&K people who will forcefully bounce back with their vote of power in a peaceful and decisive manner.