Congress holds massive protest against PDP-BJP coalition government in Chatroo Kishtwar

State government failed to address problems of the people since last three years: Saroori 

Probe role of RDD Minister in purchasing of plants, tree guards

CHATROO (KISHTWAR), AUGUST 21: - Accusing the PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir of having failed to address the problems of the people, the Congress party on Monday held a massive protest march in Chatroo area of district Kishtwar in support of safeguarding of Article 35-A and 370 of the Constitution of India.

Led by JKPCC vice Chief G. M Saroori, a large number of Congress workers on Monday took out a rally from Chatroo bazaar to bus stand this morning and chanted slogans against Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP). Holding party flags, the Congress protesters also raised slogans against Mehbooba Mufti, Narendra Modi, RSS and other saffron parties.

While addressing the large gathered protestors, Mr. Saroori called for a probe against the role of Rural Development Department and Panchayat Raj Minister, Abdul Haq Khan in purchasing of plants and trees guards supplied in various districts of the state including Kishtwar District without inviting tenders added that the RDD department at behest of Minister’s directions purchased the plants despite the ban order from the government. He demanded that state accountability commission as well as Vigilance department should probe into the embezzlement involving Minister and his close aides. 

Saroori accuses the PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir off failure to address the problems of the people. "Since they (BJP-PDP) joined hands, the miseries of the people of Jammu and Kashmir have increased manifolds. While the BJP cheated people of Jammu, the people of Kashmir were cheated by the PDP,"Saroori said.

He said that all the promises made to the people prior to the Assembly elections of 2014 remained unfulfilled and has proved to be mere bluffs. People are fed up with the policies and sheer opportunism of two parties and people wanted to teach them lesson. "Three year are about to pass but they have failed to fulfill any of the promises, be it the problems faced by the rural and far-flung residents, be it the problems faced by the farmers, be it the problems of un-employed youths, be it the problems of poor and middle class, be it the problems of MGNREGA jobcard holders, this government has done nothing to address those problems," JKPCC Vice Chief said.

While attacking the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the centre, Mr. Saroori said that since the change of guard happened in New Delhi, the prices of essential commodities have increased manifold. "The prices of pulses, sugar, LPG gas, Petrol have increased and it has become difficult for not only the poor but also the middle class to afford pulses and other day to day essential commodities. The ever increasing inflation is taking a toll on the common masses of this country," he said and added that instead of ‘Achhe Din’, people now want return of old days.

While taking a dig “at hasty and faulty implementation” of National Food Security Act in the State, accused Coalition Government of implementing the Act in haste without adequate ground work," Saroori said and slammed the CAPD department for unfair allotment of ration cards to the families, as BPL families are placed in APL and vice versa which is a thing that needed to be taken seriously.

Saroori also blamed PDP-BJP coalition for being non serious about  the regularization issue of daily-rated workers working in different departments, problems confronting Rehbar taleem, SSA, RAMSA teachers in absence of monthly pay dues, SRO 105 which has left quarry workers of the state and elsewhere jobless, considerable rise in unemployment in the state and several other issues concerning people. 

Lashing out at People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for misleading people of J&K about Goods and Services Tax (GST), Article 370 and 35-A issues, he (Saroori) said that once they took votes from the people over these issue now are hell bent to erode the special status of the state. He also asked CM J&K Mehbooba Mufti to stop befouling the people of J&K regarding her claim of getting an assurance from PM Naredra Modi for protection of the special status enjoys by the state as a fraud. He said that the files regarding the Article 35-A has been deliberately misplaced with an aim to weaken the case in court added the Agenda of Alliance is mere a piece of document to which centre government is doing nothing. He also reminded CM Mehbooba of her promises about the returns of power projects, opening of roads for trade from Kashmir to Pakistan, improvement of conditions of the backward areas, improvement of Batote-Sinthan road, non starting of of work on  Rattle power project Drabshalla which was shut down by the BJP workers and lashes  at her on daily  killings of innocent civilians in Kashmir, use of pellet guns and delay in execution of UPA II 100 crores RGGVY phase II project which will provide electricity in every nook and corner of Chenab Valley,” Saroori said and added that present coalition government has miserably failed to do anything for the betterment of the common masses.

He later also held a meeting at Dak Bungalow Chatroo wherein Saroori thanked the people for coming in large number to make the protest a successful against the state government keeping in view that majority of population of the Chatroo area is schedule tribe (ST) were on their dhoukhs (migrated to upper areas of mountains).

The rally was attended Haji Ghulam Qadir Sheikh, Altaf Hussain Malik, Santosh Kumar, Ghulam Mohd, Mushtaq Ahmed Hap, Mohd Iqbal Keen, Hafiz Farooq Ahmed, Noor Din, Tariq Wani, Bidya Lal, Ali Hafiz, Ghulam Nabi, Abdul Rasheed Raina, Somnath, Ghulam Mohd, Saleem Wani, Ghulam Mohd Reshi, Mohd Ibrahim and large number of workers from Chatroo area.