Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 5: Trusting the Congress and the NC would be suicidal for the already grossly discriminated against people of Jammu province, as the two parties have always ditched the people of Jammu and denied them their legitimate due share in the Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha.
This was stated by BJP candidate from Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary constituency and State president Jugal Kishore Sharma on Saturday while addressing a series of election rallies at Jourian, Khour, Sunderbani and Nowshera.
Another mandate to the Congress and the NC would be suicidal for Jammu province, he said, and added that Kashmir has been enjoying excessive and preponderant share of representation both in the Assembly and Lok Sabha.
“The number of voters in Jammu province and Kashmir valley is around 32 lakh and 35 lakh, respectively. The difference is less than three lakh. But Jammu province sends 37 members to the Assembly at the rate of one per 86,486.5 voters and at the rate of one per 710 sq km. In contrast, Kashmir sends 46 members to the Assembly at the rate of one legislator per 76,087 voters and at the rate of one per 344 sq km.
The story of representation in the Lok Sabha is no different. According to the 2002 voters list, there were 30,59,986 voters in Jammu province and 28,83,550 voters in Kashmir in 2004. During the 2004 and 2009 general elections, Jammu province sent only two members to the Lok Sabha at the rate of one per 15,29,993 voters, while Kashmir elected three members at the rate of one per 9,61,183 voters – this was a huge difference of 5,68,810 voters per seat,” said Sharma. The Congress and the NC just cannot fool and hoodwink the people of Jammu province, he said, adding that their misinformation campaign that they did justice to the people of Jammu province has no taker in this politically marginalized reagion.
He also bemoaned that the rate of unemployment in Jammu province is over 69 per cent, as against less than 30 per cent in Kashmir and said that a sense of frustration and despondency has gripped the youth of Jammu province.
Jugal appealed people to ditch Congress and NC this time by casting their votes in favour of BJP for a bright and prosperous future.
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