Launches membership drive of DPAP from Anantnag
STATE TIMES NEWS
ANANTNAG: Chairman Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday launched a membership drive of Kashmir province from Anantnag amidst dozens of high-profile political leaders and workers joining the party at Khanabal here.
Azad formally handed over the membership papers to the workers and directed all party rank to follow an enrolment pattern in the drive as the party spans across Jammu and Kashmir.
Before the launching of the membership drive, scores of high-profile political leaders, activists, and workers, including the DDC Chairman, DDC members, Sarpanches, and workers from all regional and national parties joined DPAP with the hope that Ghulam Nabi Azad is the only Chief Minister of J&K in more than 70 years who have delivered within short term as CM.
Welcoming them, Azad spelled out his vision for Jammu and Kashmir and recalled how he was able to govern within three years of his tenure as CM.
Delving on the current governance model, Azad said whatever good work the present government did during previous years, it undoes that by taking hasty and anti-people decisions like land eviction drives, imposition of property tax, scams in recruitment rules or imposing numerous laws which only elected government could adopt or formulate once it comes to power.
“No doubt, the terrorism is on the wane, and the government of the day has been able to eliminate terrorism, no stone pelting takes place in Jammu and Kashmir to an extent that was witnessed in the last 35 years, but all this hard work proves futile once severe administrative decisions like land eviction drive, imposition of property tax and other anti-people rules are made,” Azad told.
Moreover, Azad said that there must have been lacunae in land laws over the years which the politicians or officials would have used to their advantage but why should government target poor common people of Jammu and Kashmir who have small holdings or households in plains or in terrains.
“Jammu and Kashmir is moving away from terrorism to normalcy and people now want relief in form of non-imposition of property tax, less electricity fees, no eviction drives so that once they live a normal life and as business booms, they would be able to comply with tax provisions,” Azad said.
In view of the ensuing Ramadhan, Azad urged the government to release all religious leaders or youth who have been detained under various laws and are in jails outside on the ground that they don’t have anything to do with terrorism or terrorists.
“Since Ramadan is coming it’s a holy month of prayers and fasting, I urge the government to release all the religious leaders and youth who have nothing to do with terrorism directly or indirectly should be freed and no one should be imprisoned just on the basis of suspicion,” said Azad.
He asked the government to come clear on the claims of normalcy when it directed the elected DDC/BDC members and Sarpanches to restrict their movement in respective areas from 11 to 5 PM.
“What kind of normalcy is it when elected representatives are being asked to report back by 5 pm to the designated accommodations as they are debarred to spend enough time with people of their constituencies,” he said and asked the government to direct all agencies to permit representatives to be with the people on the ground.
Referring to his party DPAP emerging as a formidable political party in Jammu and Kashmir, Azad said his vision for J&K is not limited to one province or another but the whole of the erstwhile state as he has proved it as CM.
“DPAP has a futuristic and inclusive vision where young and old merge to a new idea of Jammu and Kashmir where merit rules and there is no imbalance in aspirations of various regions,” he said.
Amidst a rousing welcome, Advocate Mohammad Saleem Paray (DDC member), Chaudary Mohammad Yousuf Gorsi (DDC Chairman), Peer Shahbaz (DDC member), Imtiyaz Ahmad Najar (MC President Achabal), Bilal Ahmad Yatoo and dozens of Sarpanches and political workers joined DPAP in presence of Chairman.
Advocate Saleem Paray vehemently affirmed that as Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad was able to give justice in fake encounter cases, enforce the completion of developmental works in double shifts, construction of Hajj House, Tulip Garden, State Assembly, creation of districts, establishment of AIIMS, Medical Colleges, District Hospitals, and Sub-District Hospitals, etc
“Azad in three years could manage such a gigantic work which other chief ministers failed to do in 70 years. He is our hope to get out of this present quagmire which we are into for last so many years,” Advocate Saleem affirmed after joining the party fold.
Those present on the occasion include Taj Mohuideen (Treasurer), GM Saroori (Vice-Chairman), Haji Abdul Rashid (Ex-MLA), Mohd Amin Bhat (Ex-MLA), Gulzar Wani (Ex-MLA), Advocate Manzoor Ganai, Chaudhary Haroon Khatana (Gen Secy), Farooq Shikari (State Secy), Shafiq Shabnam, Altaf Mir, Fatima Shabir and scores of DDC Chairpersons, members, Sarpanches, panchs and hundreds of workers.
