Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Mar, 12
Referring to the movement launched by the BJP for enhancement of salaries of DDC members besides a higher protocol for them, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh JKNPP Chairman and former Minister said that the saffron leadership has all along played politics for vested interest and self aggrandizement. It was shocking to note that rather than espousing the cause of their electorates after maneuvering victory of its DDC candidates in recent elections, the BJP leaders were attempting to browbeat the administration for promotion of their personal interests. Rather than seeking a fair deal for the people who had voted for them in the elections, they were pressurizing the government to increase their perks and privileges, said Mr. Singh. “Not a word was uttered about the pathetic plight of daily rated workers of PHE, PWD, PDD, NHM, MGNREGA, Anganwari and Asha Workers who were working on negligible honorarium for the last several years. Several DRWs had been deprived of their wages for months and years together with none in the govt to even listen to their tale of woes”, regretted Mr. Singh. He was addressing a press conference in Jammu today.
Strongly denouncing the opportunistic politics of power and money hungry leaders of BJP, Mr. Singh said that such selfish leaders stood fully exposed before the people not once but on several occasions. He reminisced that in 2015 also the BJP-PDP government had doubled the salaries of legislators from Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 1,60,000 per month due to the pressure mounted by such corrupt leaders and now the very same party was in the forefront of protest seeking higher emoluments and higher protocol.
Decrying the lack of concern shown by the elected leadership towards the genuine concerns of the poor masses and rural populace who catapulted them to power, Mr. Singh said that the conduct of such leaders had disappointed the common masses. The Panchayats had been deprived of their due funding with liabilities for works done under MGNREGA bourgeoning year after year and the elected members regretfully maintaining criminal silence over the issue. It was sad to note that the elected BJP leaders had failed to raise the issue before the concern authorities for clearance of the dues of job card holders and other MGNREGA workers in various Panchayats. There were no takers for the shrill cries of the Panchayat members and other rural workers who were seeking early payment of their dues pending for years. Likewise the developmental works in rural areas had come to a grinding halt. The condition of rural roads, water supply works, power sector, health and education was highly deplorable and still none to project the woes of the rural masses, maintained Mr. Singh.
In the meanwhile DDC member of Panthers Party from Dudu-Basantgarh, Mrs. Ashri Devi today addressed a press conference where in she stated that she stood for the cause of the people and welfare of her electorates and was not a part of those DDC members who were seeking higher salary and higher protocol for themselves. She said that her only objective was to serve the people who had reposed faith in her with all her heart and soul. She urged upon the government to enhance the wages of daily wagers and minimum wages of the labour class. She said that she will continue to fight for the poor and marginalized sections of society and continue to expose the opportunist and corrupt leaders of BJP.
Mr. Gagan Pratap Singh, Mr. Parshotam Parihar (State Secretaries-JKNPP), Mr. Surinder Chouhan (District President Jammu Rural) and Gurdeep Singh (Youth Secretary Jammu Rural) were also present in the press conference.
