Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Mar 19: Former minister and Zonal president, JKNC Central Zone, Babu Rampaul today demanded a special employment package for educated youth of border areas so as to mitigate their sufferings.
He was addressing public meetings at Kot Punnu and Deoli Jattan, border villages in Hiranagar Tehsil of Kathua district. Sham Narayan Mehta, District president Kathua (Rural-B), presided over the meeting.
NC leader flayed the UT administration for turning deaf ear to the problems of people residing in border villages. He highlighted the issue of old age pension and mentioned that nearly 75000 applications have not been touched whereas another 25000 are under process and kept pending for want of several documents. He demanded immediate hike in old age pension from meager sum of Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 as inflation has increased manifold.
He also voiced his concerns over the imposition of Property Tax at Municipal Corporation and Municipal Committee level and said that people have strong apprehension that the ambit of property tax will be extended upto town and Panchayat level in the coming days.
NC leader also demanded to hold elections in J&K at the earliest as people were feeling suffocated and frustrated under the LG rule which doesn’t listen to the public and acts in an autocratic manner.
Former MLA, Qazi Jalal-ud-Din said that NC stands committed for secularism and social equality. He said the NC has a legacy of serving the poor and weaker sections of the society. He said unemployment is all time high in the present scenario which is the root cause of depression and anxiety among the young generation following which it is becoming drug addict.
Zonal secretary, Dr Vikas Sharma flayed the LG administration for denying entitled security to the leaders and former ministers of opposition parties.
Sham Narayan Mehta, District president Kathua (Rural-B), reiterated his resolve to continue making efforts to consolidate the party in his area of operation. Senior leaders Aslam Chowdhry and B D Dalotra were also present.
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