Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Dec, 02:
Former Minister and senior Congress leader Raman Bhalla on Monday slammed Union Govt for fresh hike in the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder and demanded to withdraw it in public interest.He expressed concern over the increase in the price of subsidised and non-subsidised LPG cooking gas cylinders.”The government has created a crisis before the people by increasing the price of subsidised and non-subsidised LPG cylinders. He alleged the price hike of cooking LPG gas cylinders have been uncontrolled and without any legitimate explanation. Prices of LPG cylinder have been hiked without any explanation. He was interacting with prominent persons of Chatha Bhour on Monday .The prominent among those present on the occasion include Pawan Bhagat Congress contesting candidate JMC Ward 73 Bhour Gadi Garh, Kapoor Lal ward President, Roop Lal Bhagat, Dharam Pal, S. Gandhi Singh,Sham Lal, Bushan Kumar, Ravinder Singh and others Congress party workers.
He said that youth is affected by the rising unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir and drug abuse has further aggravated the problem. He urged workers to work on socio-political issues for the betterment and welfare of youth of Jammu. He asked workers to work for propagating the ideology of Congress party to all the young people who are being misguided by fake and false propaganda on social media. He asked the youth present to work at booth level to strengthen the Congress party.
Stating that unemployment in JK was like a ticking time bomb—which can burst anytime, Bhalla said that said BJP Govt failed to address the issue. He said that sharp hike in the price of LPG has been witnessed and this is the new gift of Modi Govt of `Achhe Din’ to the people. He said without considering the needs of the common man, it is return gift to the people who funded the campaign of Narendra Modi. The story of good days is reaching to its diagonally opposite end with the rise in LPG prices now all slated to miserably affect everyday lives. This will have severe impact on poor people because poor households spend more than half of their income on food.He said hike in the price of LPG is also a clear indication that the Government is slowly striving to give up its social responsibilities and let market forces decide the fate and destiny of common man. The government is interested in the benefits of the corporate and not the welfare of the people.
Bhalla pointed out that there had been a four-fold rise in onion prices during the last three months which had rendered the popular vegetable beyond the reach of a common man. “The astounding rate of onions touching Rs.100 per kg under BJP rule has left masses ‘tear-eyed’. With LPG already being costlier, the soaring prices of vegetables and groceries have shattered the budget of a common household with housewives left dazed and confused”, Bhalla rued.He regretted that inflation had become a benchmark of BJP’s governance and looting people by burning holes in their pockets had always been its motive. Lambasting the BJP for its hypocrisy over the inflation, Bhalla reminded that while the BJP was in opposition, its front line leaders wasted no time to lodge series of protest demonstrations at every nook and corner of the country against the price rise of essential commodities. But now when the party has been in power, the inflation rate had peaked all-time high and broken all records
The alarming unemployment in JK is evident from the fact that 77,641 youth applied for 5,199 posts of Special Police Officer (SPO).He said employment status in JK is worst as having no private sector, the youth have to rely on government jobs which are scarce, the government should take steps to tackle the problem and save our society from falling into the abyss of crisis. One of the main reasons for frustration and depression among youth is due to unemployment. There is deep relationship between poverty and unemployment. In many areas of JK both rural and urban sector, we see different types of poverty in society due to unemployment such as poor housing, poor infrastructure and poor health.
The unemployment gives birth to political instability and youth lose faith in democratic values and peaceful means. They consider that the government is worthless which fails to provide them work. The increasing unemployment causes loss of human resources as well. The labourers in search of employment are virtually facing huge distress. Those labourers who get the job are forced to work under adverse conditions of low wages. Bhalla said service sector can provide an opportunity for employment but lacks adequate support from the government. Govt schemes are either not implemented on the ground or are not being supported with adequate funds. To overcome the frustration and disillusionment among the youth, govt must explore avenues for meaningful employment in JK. Any delay is fraught with serious consequences, Bhalla maintained.
