Shadow Correspondent
Samba, Sep 16:
Apni Party Contesting Candidate for Vijaypur Assembly Constituency, and Former Minister, S. Manjit Singh that the people cannot trust BJP that compromised the sentiments of Dogras, after getting 25 Assembly seats to then Legislative Assembly of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir and formed an alliance Govt with the PDP in 2014.
“It was the dishonest approach towards the people who trusted and voted BJP to power. Similarly, the BJP cannot be trusted because in all these ten years the Jammu and Kashmir, especially Vijaypur, suffered adversely with no scope of development as the administration was in the hands of the bureaucracy which was in direct control of BJP,” he stated, addressing series of public meetings across Vijaypur, Parmandal, Bari Brahmana, border villages, and other areas.
The Former Minister has intensified his election campaign by holding series of public meetings in the constituency, assuring an end to the discriminatory approach adopted by the administration, and ensuring overall development of all the areas.
He said that he is committed to bring changes on the ground as per the wishes of the people, who were kept away from the decision-making process.
“The suffering of the people in Samba’s Vijaypur constituency increased because of the unilateral decision and no development. The unemployment has increased and on the other hand, the drug addiction and drug smuggling has become a major concern for the society,” he said.
He said that the drug addiction / peddling has consumed many lives and destroyed families in Vijaypur that needs a serious policy to deal with the issue with the involvement of administration, police and the members of civil society.
On the other hand, he questioned the high-profile marketing strategy to mislead the people of Vijaypur Constituency adopted by the BJP that does not address the basic issues of underdevelopment, unemployment, drug addiction, increase in crime, worsening condition of interior roads and Jammu-Pathankot highway in Vijaypur that has become a major cause of road mishap, and loss of life.
He alleged that the BJP has tried to divert the attrition of the voters from the basic issues of development, protection to the resources for locals, and employment to the divisive agenda that suits it as it did nothing for the people of Vijaypur, and other areas of Jammu region.
“The people of Vijaypur voted BJP to power in 2014, but it formed the Govt with PDP even as both the political parties had contradictory political ideology. Both the parties betrayed the vote bank for power politics, and joined hands to enjoy the coalition alliance Govt till the statehood was eroded and the historic state was downgraded into a Union Territory following its bifurcation into two Union Territories i.e., J&K and Ladakh,” he said, expressing anguish over the divisive agenda that has destroyed the Dogra state.
He recalled how the Maharajas of Jammu and Kashmir fought battles and established a large state that is considered the crown of India. However, the BJP reduced the crown into a Union Territory after its division.
“The people must be aware of the agenda of BJP that has compromised the pride of Dogra. The toll plazas, and worse type of highway construction at Vijaypur has become a witness to the failure of BJP and the bureaucracy which is working in its direction,” he added.
He said that if the Apni Party forms the Govt, the Party would take decisions in the interest of the people, and no outsider would be allowed to grab the resources of Jammu and Kashmir.
“We want a peaceful and developed state of Jammu and Kashmir. We are committed to fight for the restoration of statehood with all powers to an elected Govt. We will fight against the BJP’s agenda of keeping the weakened Govt in Jammu and Kashmir, and making the Lt Governor more powerful,” he added.
He said that the Apni Party, if it comes to power, will empower every section of society, and will protect their constitutional rights.
