Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Dec 18: Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) has reiterated the demand for land and job rights for domiciles of Jammu and Kashmir.
Explaining the charter of demands, which DPAP says is the core issue for the party and its chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad, “It’s a legitimate call for having such rights which people of other States like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and North eastern States have in order to protect basic rights there.”
In a unanimous call by DPAP leaders including vice-chairman GM Saroori, general secretary RS Chib, Provincial president Jugal Kishore Sharma, vice president Jammu Province Subash Gupta and president SC Cell Om Prakash Bhal and others enumerated reasons for such demand.
“Our rights for the jobs and land guarantee for the local population will continue. Our people have suffered badly after 2019 and it was Ghulam Nabi Azad who as leader of opposition raised the voice for Jammu and Kashmir,” said Saroori addressing a public meeting here.
Addressing the meeting, DPAP general secretary RS Chib recalled the short tenure of Azad which he termed as golden period during which Jammu and Kashmir overall development.
“The creation of new districts, sub-divisions, tehsils, niabats, blocks and medical colleges and overall developmental impetus was witnessed in two and half years of Ghulam Nabi Azad as Chief Minister,” Chib said at the meeting organised by Arjun Singh, general secretary, district committee and prominent leaders.
Stressing on the role of DPAP in highlighting people’s issues, Jugal Kishore Sharma urged party members to reach out to all at grassroots level.
“It was DPAP’s protests on roads which forced UT administration to stop harsh measures like forced eviction, curtailment of ration, imposition of property tax and other issues and the party remains firm in highlighting people’s issues,” Sharma affirmed.
Those who organized and attended the event includes senior leader Devinder Singh Bindoo, State secretary Aradhana Andotra, Zonal vice president Parveen Bhagat, secretary Kathua (Urban) Surjit Singh, youth leader Gagan Deep Singh, Sarpanchs Rakesh Thakur and Raj Singh, senior leader Chaudhary Ashraf Ali and district secretary Purshotam Sharma.