SAMBA JULY 10 (KNS) : Former Minister and Senior National Conference leader Mr Ajay Kumar Sadhotra today expressed serious concern over the plan of the Jammu and Kashmir government to provide five Marlas of land ‘each to the landless’, saying the people are genuinely apprehensive about the outsiders being settled living in Jammu and Kashmir under the garb of the so-called PM Awas Yojana-Grameen (PMAY-G).
Speaking in a public meeting at Shah Badole, district Samba to pay tributes to Madr-e-Mehrban on her Death Anniversary, which was organized by Satwant Kour Provincial President, Women Wing, Chander Uday Singh Secretary Zone, Surjeet Singh Manhas Joint Secretary Jammu Province, said the bonafide state subjects of Jammu and Kashmir will resist any compromise with the lands and jobs.
“The sinister move, if any, to provide lands and jobs to the residents outside Jammu and Kashmir will be fought democratically and peacefully”, he said, adding that such a move will eventually lead to dolling out jobs to outsiders at the cost of the local educated unemployed and encouraging businessmen from the neighbouring states to crush the economy of locals.
Already, the outsiders have made inroads in various businesses like liquor and minor minerals, seeking contracts and maintaining monopoly over toll plazas. The locals, especially the people of Jammu have started facing the brunt of the vicious conspiracy of diluting their identity and usurping their economic interests. The proposed one more toll plaza ahead of the Lakhanpur will be a huge burden on the people and the J&K economy. He said such a move will further tax the Mata Vaishno Deviji and Shri Amarnathji pilgrims.
Referring to serious threat to J&K lands from the outsiders with the active patronage of the double engine government, Mr Sadhotra recalled the landmark Land Reforms Act brought in
by the National Conference under the towering leadership of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, making the poor and landless masters of holdings overnight at the mutation of just rupees two. How can these poor people part with their precious lands, he asked.
The former minister cautioned the government against parting with the land to outsiders and sought adequate land to be allotted to the poor families which have expanded during the decades. They cannot dwell in just five marlas as the erstwhile families have grown to several families over the years and hence they need to be covered under the PM Awas Yojana-Grameen.
Mr Sadhotra also dwelt in detail over erratic power and drinking water supply, problems on account of rations, dewatering of inundated areas across the Jammu region, unemployment problem and delay in regularizing the daily wagers. He said the smart meters and the plan to recharge of domestic energy will hit the poor the most and hence such a decision should be rolled back.
Babu Ram Paul President Central Zone also paid glowing tributes to Madr-e-Mehrban Begum Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah on the eve of death anniversary, Mr Ram Paul recalled her historic role during the political movement of Jammu and Kashmir, as also towards the socio-economic empowerment of women.
He dwelt upon the role played by Begum Sahiba during the imprisonment of Sheikh Sahib and kept the spirit of people for democracy alive by infusing a new vigour in them.
“Whenever historians will write on Sher-e-Kashmir, they cannot afford to ignore Madr-e-Meharban, as the persona of the tallest among the towering leaders of the time was incomplete without this great lady”, Babu Ram Paul added.
Mr Sadhotra referred to the exemplary contribution of Begum Sahiba in promotion of female literacy and empowerment of weaker sections of the society, irrespective of region, religion, Caste, creed and colour. She will always be remembered for giving a big fillip to female literacy.
Prominent among those present on the occasion are Chander Mohan Sharma District President Jammu, Raghubir Singh District President Jammu, Harshwardan Singh YNC, Dr Vikas Sharma Zonal Secretary, Randhir Singh Chib, Vikas Chowdhary, Aman Singh Manhas, Ch Hamid, Arun Pal Singh, District and Block officer bearers were also present.(KNS)