Dear Editor,
On 3rd of January 2016 ‘Sushasan’ rally was organised by BJP in Udhampur in a private place which was attended by MoS in PMO, Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Minister of Forestry and Social Welfare and MoS PWD among them MLA Ramnagar and Chenani. The people of all three Tehsils were managed to register their presence in the rally followed by lunch for them. The capacity of the venue does not exceed more than eight hundred to approximately one thousand. Some announcements of much importance to Udhampur town were made by the MoS in PMO and Deputy Chief Minister, and we appreciate this gesture of visiting dignitaries shown towards Udhampurians (if practically they find place on ground).
The main concern of people is the conspicuous absence of the MLA Udhampur, who is also MoS in the present Coalition Government. Although he contested elections as an independent candidate after mandate denied by the BJP but he stands as part of present government from the BJP quota (as is known). The question arises whether he deliberately abstained from this rally or he was not figuring in the list of invitees, but in both cases his presence was must while announcing certain measures for Udhampur, a constituency represented by him. This situation has given an occasion to ask whether the MLA Udhampur has some say in the Coalition Government of BJP and PDP.
Another feature of the occasion was that when the visiting ministers were speaking and mostly mentioning the much talked policies of BJP Government at the Center (criticised by opponents as no relief for commoner) and speaking of high concern of people, at the same time, just outside the venue the employees of PHE were raising slogans against the State Government for their wages pending for the last one year, the Anganwadi workers were also protesting against the biased attitude of government, +2 Lecturers Forum members were expressing concern about recently announced policy by the government with regard to KAS cadre for various posts at the direction level, the RET teachers were protesting against Education Minister terming him as confused man, and NPP workers were torching the effigy of Central Government and criticising the PM for his unclear stand on Pakistan. The visiting Central Minister and State Ministers did not think of meeting the agitators just outside the venue. They failed to say a single word about the problems being agitated and even a word regarding the militant attack continuing at Pathankot claiming precious lives of brave soldiers. During all the time the speakers kept explaining about various schemes launched by Modi. Nothing was even whispered about rising prices and other day to day problems of the common man, so the various announcements can well be construed as diversion of attention of common man from the acute problems they are facing.
We can rightly claim that it was a rally which can be termed as ‘Awareness’ rally rather than to brand it as ‘Sushasan’ rally as the ‘Sushasan’ of the present government was fully exposed by employees of various government departments agitating and raising slogans against the government.
M. S Jamwal
Udhampur.
