Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, June, 16
Disputing the claims of development, normalcy and corruption free system in J&K being repeatedly made by the central BJP leaders post J&K’s re-organization, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh Chairman-JKNPP and former Minister accused the present regime of indulging in self praise and self adulation without showing anything tangible on the ground. A govt which promised a visible change in J&K after Art 370 abrogation has failed to curb even the gradual deterioration in the general services with a highly ascendant bureaucracy averse to the woes and sufferings of common masses. With its delivery being an inverse proposition to the articulation of its promises, the people were fast losing faith in the BJP regime. He said that there were tensions in various parts of the erstwhile State after its reorganization into UTs in view of the centre’s failure to allay the apprehensions of the people of various regions. He argued that the BJP govt had failed to address the concerns of various aspirational groups which has sparked outrage in various regions as was being manifested in the shape of ever increasing protests and public demonstrations being organized on day to day basis. He was addressing public meetings in Ladda, Chirdi, Mada and Karlah villages of Chenani constituency.
“Downgrading of the oldest historical State of J&K to UTs has been the most obnoxious dent upon the pride of its people. A feeling of deprivation and demotion which hurt the people could have been assuaged to some extent by compensating them in other ways. The govt failed to do that.
The tall slogans of the employment package for J&K have all evaporated into their air. Instead of providing gainful employment to educated unemployed youth, the recent past witnessed large scale retrenchments in public and private sectors. The Education, Power, PHE and Health sectors in particular are in a mess with acute deficiency of manpower having adversely impacted the functioning of these significant deptts. And while the people continue to suffer the govt is busy patting its own back”, lamented Mr. Singh.
“The fact of the matter is that J&K continues to bleed. In peaceful Jammu too, the mobile internet remained banned for around 18 months causing much inconvenience to general masses besides huge losses to traders and students as well. Development has come to a grinding halt with corruption having become all pervasive. Those who question the policies of the govt are treated with derision and contempt. Right to hold peaceful protests which is a hallmark of Indian democracy is often denied. People are suffering for want of civic amenities. Several State Commissions have been dissolved without providing suitable alternative forums thus adversely affecting the poor litigants who had pinned hopes in such commissions. PSC which was wound up was again revived thus pointing towards the utter confusion prevailing in the administrative circles. Several daily rated workers have been terminated. Several casual and need based workers are apprehensive about their future. The college and 10+2 lecturers engaged on academic arrangement/contractual basis feel downgraded in view of their conversion to daily rated workers. The activities of opposition leaders, despite their nationalist credentials, are kept under surveillance. And there seem to be two sets of laws in the State. One for BJP and other for opposition parties. While the opposition parties have been divested of their security and official accommodation after Reorganization of State, BJP leaders and workers continue to enjoy the luxury of a fleet of security vehicles with huge deployment of police personnel with them besides their continuance in Ministerial Bungalows and other govt accommodation. And all this in a govt which gave tall slogans of good governance, accountability and transparency after Art 370 abrogation and division of state into UTs,” said Mr. Singh.
While J&K was haemorrhaging after its division into two UTs, the BJP govt at the centre seemed to be least concerned about the plight of the suffering people of erstwhile state.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Mrs. Manju Singh, Rampaul Bhagat, Raj Pratap Singh, Tanantar Singh, Subash Sharma, Kapoor Singh, Govind Singh, Khem Raj, Parkash Chand, Rattan Singh, Karnail Singh besides others.
