Azad promises land, job protection laws, vows dignity for ST Community

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: Highlighting the historical context of land and job rights granted by Maharaja Hari Singh, including state subject provisions, Chairman Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday pledged to enact laws safeguarding land and job rights of people in Jammu and Kashmir as a priority when elected to power.
Addressing a public meeting in Chowadhi, Jammu, Azad emphasized his personal role in advocating for Article 370, questioning the Congress’s silence on the matter since his departure from the party.
Expressing concern over derogatory remarks against the Gujjar community, he commended their resilience against militancy and promised to uplift them, ensuring respect and dignity.
Azad criticized other political parties for exploiting the Gujjar community for electoral gains, contrasting his focus as Chief Minister on the Roshni Scheme and the allocation of free land to the homeless. He reiterated his commitment to revisiting and reinstating such initiatives.
Rejecting religious-based politics, Azad affirmed his dedication to a development-centric agenda and urged the cadre to uphold non-discrimination and inclusivity, vowing representation for all communities in both party and government roles, if elected.
Azad underscored a development centric approach, aiming at eradicating poverty and unemployment.
Highlighting the plight of highly educated youth facing joblessness, he emphasized the need to address this issue. He expressed concern over the trend of awarding contracts to outsiders while locals remain overlooked.
Azad said his commitment lies in creating opportunities for local youth, ensuring that their skills are harnessed for the region’s development and prosperity.
Azad emphasized the need to transcend religious politics, urging a focus on public welfare.
Having extensively toured every corner of the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, he acknowledged the widesprea
d suffering shared by the residents.
He said, ‘Officers, mostly outsiders, lack the necessary experience and knowledge about Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in unaddressed public issues. We need more local officers and a local government to understand and tackle our unique challenges. This is why I stress the importance of early elections.”
Among others present in the public meeting included, Taj Mohiuddin Treasurer, R.S.Chib Gen Secretary, Jugal Kishore Sharma Provincial President, Anita Thakur Gen Secretary, Arvinder Singh Mickey Gen Secretary, Salman Nizami Chief Spokesperson, Ch Gharu Ram Zonal President, Ashok Sharma VP Province, Hira Lal Abrol Secretary, Ch Riyaz Niaz Secretary, Sobat Ali Gen Secretary ST, Sunita Arora, Distt Presidents Gourav Chopra, Thakur Raghvir Singh Distt Samba, Adv Masood Choudhary, President Women Wing Prabha Salathia, Zahid Sarfaraz Malik, Ashok Bhagat, Vishal Chopra, Kirtan Singh, Gurmeet Kaur, Barinder Partap Singh, Fatima Shikari and Farooq Shikari.