Collapse of Dogra empire to UT dis-appointing: Harsh

Senior AAP leader Harsh Dev Singh interacting with public in Chenani constituency of Udhampur district.
Senior AAP leader Harsh Dev Singh interacting with public in Chenani constituency of Udhampur district.

Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Dec 28: Former minister and senior AAP leader Harsh Dev Singh today said that with J&K having been divested of its statehood status, the trade, tourism and economy of the erstwhile princely Dogra state of the country had been adversely impacted.
“While the economy fast dissipated and the development scenario witnessed a downward slide, the ever growing unemployment seemed to be the only notable feature of the saffron rule. The past few years witnessed massive public uprisings against the anti Jammu and anti people policies of the ruling dispensation which continued to be suppressed through iron fist of police and civil administration,” said Harsh Dev. He was addressing public meetings in Toldi Nala and Bali of Chenani constituency.
The former Minister said rather than honouring the commitments made by it during last polls, it was trying to crush the dissenting voices by causing dissensions in and breaking the opposition parties. Describing the BJP’s handling of dissent and disquiet as oppressively bizarre, undemocratic and morally sinister, Singh appealed the people not to succumb before the Machiavellian designs of the power hungry rulers. He assured that he would stand with his people through thick and thin and continue to expose and oppose the BJP for its political debauchery and subterfuge.
Harsh Dev lambasted the BJP for having done the greatest disservice to J&K and particularly the Dogras by demoting it to the level of UT. It has humiliated the Dogras by dismantling the oldest Dogra state. “The extension of several draconian laws after abrogation of Art 370 including opening of lands and jobs to outsiders had in particular, come as a rude shocker for the people of J&K. The unemployed youth of Jammu region have been the most disappointed lot with their share in services have been abysmally reduced. The daily wagers, the contractual workers and the underemployed have all felt cheated in the BJP regime,” he added.