‘Walk-outs no solution, quit government’

STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Describing formation of regional councils as the only way to end decades old regional disparity, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee on Friday lashed out at the BJP for acting as ‘mute spectator’ over discrimination with the Jammu region.
“BJP must clear its stand on discrimination with unemployed youth from Jammu province,” Sham Lal Sharma, Senior Vice President JKPCC and former minister told reporters here this afternoon.
He said the PDP-BJP government has crossed all the limits of injustice with Jammu whether it is the PSC or SSRB, the discrimination on the galore in the selection lists of Assistant Professors in Degree Colleges, Associate Professors in GMC, Judicial officers, doctors, engineers, etc. But all the Ministers and MLAs of BJP remained completely mum over crucial issues pertaining to Jammu region, he added.
Sharma expressed his concern over walkouts by lawmakers of ruling alliance partners and said walkout is not a solution. If these members are feeling discriminated, they should straightway come out from the Government.
He said that the BJP which considers itself champions of Jammu region has failed to address the issues of people of Jammu and removing disparity between Jammu region and Kashmir region and also disparity in distribution of funds between two regions.
The former minister asked the BJP to clear its stand on the discrimination with Jammu youth in recruitment to various categories of posts in various departments including to the positions of Assistant Professors and teachers.
“The party which got huge mandate from Jammu region was now playing hide and seek when it comes to speak for the youth of Jammu region”, Sham said, adding that this is a matter of grave concern.
He said, “Before elections, the BJP made promises but their criminal silence on issue of discrimination has clearly exposed them.”
The Congress stalwart also accused the BJP of its complete surrender before PDP by selling due share of employment and development of Jammu region.
“BJP should explain reasons behind highly discriminatory decision of Education Department for allotment of 14 per cent seats to Jammu, nil to Ladakh and 86 per cent to Kashmir,” he asserted.
“Regional Councils, I feel is the only way out to end the disparity between all the three regions of the State with additional powers to the legislators,” he suggested.
Sharma further added that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during 2014 Assembly elections, visited Hiranagar, Kathua, Samba, Rajouri and other parts of the State and sought votes to form government to end discrimination with the Jammu region but three years after the government formation, Jammu is still carving for its due share.
“We waited and watched PDP-BJP government but they have failed on all fronts,” he asserted.
“The present government is doing politics of polarisation,” he said and added that regional councils for Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir can only solve the crisis of disparity.
The former minister also criticised the State Health Department for poor infrastructure and dismal health scenario in the State and alleged that it has been converted into a ‘transfer industry’.