‘BJP robbed local youth of jobs’
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Oct 17: Hitting out at ruling BJP over its claims of normalcy post abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah today said that killings would never stop till ‘justice’ was delivered.
“Had the situation been improved on the ground, another innocent Kashmiri Pandit would not have been killed. It (killings) will never stop as long as there is no justice,’ he told the reporters at Reasi where he was asked about his reaction to the latest target killing of Puran Krishan Bhat- a Kashmiri Pandit, by militants in Shopian.
Though the former Chief Minister did not elaborate what “justice” he was talking about, he was apparently referring to the restoration of Article 370, which was abrogated by the Centre on August 5, 2019.
“They were making noises that this (terrorism) was the result of Article 370. Today, there is no Article 370 but why such killings are then taking place and who is responsible for the same?” Farooq said and added that he did not see any improvement in the situation.
The NC president claimed that rather than inching towards promised normalcy and development, Jammu and Kashmir had only seen worsening of the situation after abrogation of Article 370.
“It (J&K) continues to witness political vacuum, unemployment, development deficit and misgovernance. They (BJP) claim situation has improved after abrogation of Article 370 but in reality situation has worsened more,’ he said.
Farooq Abdullah further alleged that BJP Government snatched jobs and lands of the locals and offered contracts of various development projects to the outsiders, causing severe setback to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Allotment of mining contracts, liquor contracts to outsiders will rob local youth of job opportunities and affect livelihood of thousands of families. Most of the development projects are being allotted to the people from outside J&K while our contractors have been made to sit idle,” he said and added that everyone, whether student, unemployed youth, trader, Govt employee, woman folk or a retiree, is worried and frustrated.
“Where did our children go for job? The people are now facing difficulties,” he said and claimed that there was an upsurge of anger against BJP across entire Jammu Kashmir and the people of the erstwhile State had made it a point to stand up for their rights.
The National Conference chief had gone to Reasi to express condolences with his party colleague and former Minister Jagjeevan Lal on the demise of his sister and the family of former bureaucrat Babu Ram who had recently passed away. Later, he went to Katra where he met NC workers and interacted with them.
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