*Demand restoration of statehood, Assembly polls
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 5: Congress, Communist Party of India (M), Shiv Sena and other organizations lodged strong protest today, demanding restoration of Statehood and early Assembly elections in the Jammu and Kashmir.
A peaceful protest was held outside party office Shaheedi Chowk by Congress Party to express anger over the abrogation of special status and downgrading of historical state into UT, on this day on Aug 5, 2019 and demanded restoration of rights of protection of land and 100 pc reservation to local youth in jobs besides restoration of democracy.
Led by JKPCC president, Vikar Rasool Wani alongwith working president Raman Bhalla, Yogesh Sawhney, Manmohan Singh, Gurbachan Kumari Rana, Ved Mahajan, Pawan Raina, Shashi Sharma, Gurmeet Singh, Kapil Singh, Babbal Gupta, Dwarka Chaudhary and several other prominent leaders, Congress activists held a silent protest dharna outside party headquarters, Jammu.
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The protestors raised slogans against the BJP Govt for downgrading the historical state and abrogation of all rights and protections to land and jobs to the people of J&K. They carried placards demanding restoration of full rights over land and hundred percent jobs and holding of early assembly elections.
Speaking on the occasion Wani questioned BJP and Centre Govt as to what has changed to the betterment of people of J&K and nation, four years after August 5, 2019 decision, He said that the promise of large scale Govt jobs and opening private sector for jobs, was a big bluff and joke with the educated youth of J&K. He said that on 5th, August 2019, J&K has lost its identity, rights and protections available to its residents which are available in various other states in the country too, in one or other form.
Raman Bhalla said that the claims of BJP for opening of floodgates of private investments and creation of large scale jobs in private sector, as nothing of this sort has been witnessed. The local traders, contractors and transporters are loosing business opportunities to outside residents, especially in Jammu region, so who has been benefitted by this decision, he questioned, while strongly criticizing the disbanding and downgrading of historical state into UT.
Chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said that Congress shall struggle for securing these aspirations of the people and would continue to struggle till achieving the statehood and other rights, claimed by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
CPI (M) while lodging strong protest against the stance of the Union Government has said that August 5, 2023 marks the completion of four years since the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 being annulled and the state of Jammu and Kashmir dismantled.
The last five years under Central rule have seen steps to alter the very identity of Jammu and Kashmir with change in domicile laws and land rights. There is a concerted move to change the demography of the state. The period has seen large scale detention of political leaders. Despite tall claims, the economic situation has deteriorated with high unemployment. The livelihood of different sections of the people like apple growers and small business owners have been adversely affected.
The Central Committee of the CPI (M), has demanded that elections be held to the J&K assembly and democracy be restored besides release of all political prisoners.
Meanwhile, on the fourth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sainik Samaj Party (SSP) unit of Jammu and Kashmir staged joint protest against the Central Government, accusing it of breaching trust and betrayal.
Dozens of Shiv Sainiks and leaders of SSP headed by Manish Sahni and Col SS Pathania ( Retd) held a silent dharna/ protest while holding tricolour and placards at Maharaja Hari Singh Park. They were raising loud slogans projecting demands.,
Manish Sahni, State president Shiv Sena J&K unit said that when the Modi Govt abrogated Article 370 on August 5, 2019, he promised that it would bring peace, economic progress, development and employment opportunities to Jammu and Kashmir. But nothing happened. After four years, the situation in the region has deteriorated to the extent that youth are desperate for jobs, and unemployment has reached its peak.
Sahni and Col Pathania strongly demanded that elections be hold in J&K and statehood be restored without any more delay.
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