Jammu, Dec 16 (KNS): The Congress today decided to seek a big political, democratic and constitutional initiative from national leadership for seeking safeguards for land, jobs, natural resources, cultural linguistic identities and regional/ sub-regional aspirations, like availed by some Northern and other states in the country under constitution by way of Article 371 and to involve other like parties in the country, on this issue.
According to statement, issued to KNS, this approach was adopted by the party after a marathon of three hours meeting of PAC, followed by day long executive meet in Jammu in the presence of AICC Incharge J&K affairs Rajni Patil, in which a political resolution was adopted unanimously in this regard, apart from a socio-political resolution, after due deliberations.
Patil assured to take up the demand with the centre leadership for consideration and follow up action and hinted at an early meeting of top PCC leaders with the central leadership.
Post Supreme Court verdict on the abrogation of Article 370, the party decided to adopt a political, democratic and constitutional approach for seeking safeguards to the protect the land and job rights besides natural resources, cultural and linguistic identities and address the regional/sub-regional aspirations, as per constitutional scope.
The PAC was chaired by Tariq Hamid Kara, CWC Member and attended by Rajni Patil, JKPCC chief Vikar Rasool Wani, CWC Member G.A. Mir, Manoj Yadav, Peerzada Mohd. Sayeed, Tara Chand, Raman Bhalla, Mula Ram, Th. Balwan Singh, G.N. Monga, Ravinder Sharma & Yogesh Sawhney.
The political resolution was moved by Ravinder Sharma and seconded by Haji Abdul Rashid while socio political resolution was moved by G.N. Monga and seconded by Balwan Singh. Both the resolutions were unanimously adopted in the meeting, attended by entire leadership from Kashmir and Jammu region comprising PCC Office bearers, Executive Members, District Presidents and Frontal Wing heads
In order to counter the malicious propaganda by BJP against Pt. Nehru and Congress, the Political resolution recalled and lauded the historical role of Congress party under great leadership of father of nation Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Nehru, Sardar Patel, Dr. Ambedkar, Maulana Azad and other stalwarts for the integration of J&K with India despite being an overwhelmingly only Muslim majority state bordering Pakistan and in recognizing the special circumstances and peculiar situations of its accession, thus extending certain guarantees to the people in the shape of Article 370, which have been unilaterally abrogated by BJP in furtherance of their political agenda.
The PCC viewed there is enough scope in our constitution to seek safeguards for these rights which can be achieved by a democratic mode by a big political initiative by national leadership of the party by involving other like minded parties also, as in some other states of the county.
The resolution also sought immediate restoration of statehood as directed by Hon'ble Supreme Court and early holding of assembly elections under the state. The party also sought implementation of 33% reservation in the assembly for women in J&K from this forth coming elections, since delimitation has already been done in J&K.
Raising questions over inadequate representation to POJK and KP's in the assembly, party asked BJP to fulfill commitment of 1/3rd share of POJK seats through elections to them and adequate share to the KP's besides seeking representation the Sikh Minority and Christians, in the absence of upper house in J&K.
Party also expressed great concern over the recent spurt in terror activities and martyrdom of officers and Jawans in Rajouri-Poonch and Kokernag and demanded the government ensure safety and security of innocents minorities and outsider labourers, who are soft targets.
Hitting out at BJP for the divisive politics, it asked it to desist from further fragmenting the society, as people are awakened now of their divisive politics.
In the socio-economic resolution it took strongly on BJP and UT administration for wrong economic politics & huge taxations of various sorts which are anti-poor , anti-youth, anti-employees, anti-farmers amidst huge unemployment and unprecedented price rise.
Questing BJP for its promise of two crore jobs annually and depositing black money in their accounts, the party said people now demand return of olden days, It referred to recruitment scams and demanded a high level commission to probe and sought filling up of all vacant posts on fast track basis and creation of more posts in all departments to absorb unemployed.
Party also support employees demand for old pension scheme and termed it a just demand and should be conceded.
Criticising the Govt. for its anti employees approach banning their protests, it asked the government to resolve their genuine issues besides regularisation of all daily/need based, contractual and other temporat employees in different departments.
It also strongly came down on the Govt. for stopping old age, widow, handicapped pensions and demanded it to be restored and enhanced
The party also demanded waving off KCC loans, immediate stopping of arrears of irrigation tax, tool tax, property tax, smart meters besides free power to poor families.
The Party also criticized the failure to enhance the financial relief to the Kashmiri migrants, grant of full package of 2014 to POJK refugees and demanded immediate action on these just demands.
It also expressed concern over the new excise policy, opening of more liquor shops and sideling of locals in the trade. It was also highly critical of the loot of natural resources, posing threat to environment and cleverly sidelining the local contractors in the projects.
Demanding restoration of old practice of Darbar Move, it said that government action has adversely affected the economic interests of people of both regions especially Jammu region and stopped cultural exchanges between people of two regions.
It also demanded withdrawal of import duty exemptions to US apples, at the cost of local fruit growers.
Main Highlights of today's Congress event of day long Executive and PAC meet:-
Remembered the victory of 1971 Bangladesh liberation this day and paid tributes to the martyrs in the war, lauded leadership of iron lady Smt. Indira Gandhi and the Army.
Political and Socio-Economic Resolutions adopted Unanimously.
Congress to take big political initiative by involving central leadership for approaching like minded parties in the country, to adopt a democratic and constitutional approach for seeking safeguards, under constitution for the land, jobs, natural resources, cultural and linguistic identities and address regional/sub-regional aspiration, on the pattern of North-Eastern and several other states, enjoying under Article 371.
Restore Statehood and hold assembly elections under statehood without delay.
Hold ULB and Panchayat elections under SEC without delay.
Give reservation to OBCs like SC/ST and women in PRIs.
Restore Darbar Move practice.
Reservation to Paharis without disturbing existing reservation of Tribals, ALC and RBA people.
Stop Agniveer, hold regular Army, Para Military recruitments and take massive recruitment drive in border/LOC and backward areas for Army and Para-forces.
Fill up all vacant posts on fast track basis.
High level probe into recruitment scams.
Restore old pension scheme(OPS) of employees.
Stop atrocities on employees.
Regularize all Daily wagers, need based in government and semi government like NHM, REK, HDF, Social Welfare and ICDS (Aganwadi workers and helpers) SPOs, Home guards, MGNREGA workers and other such categories.
Waive off KCC loans.
Stop recovery of arrears of abolished Abiyana (irrigation tax).
Double the ration scales for poor and common man and restore sugar scales.
Review excise policy which has deprived locals in the trade and stop opening of liquor shops.
Stop loot and illegal exploitation of local mining resources, threat to environment.
Change the nefarious eligibility conditions for contracts to protect rights of local contractors.
Restore widow, old age and handicapped pensions and enhance/revise the same.
Withdraw property tax, smart meters, toll tax, and other unreasonable increase in taxes.
Free power to poor and regular power supply.
Withdraw import duty exemptions to US apples, at the cost of lakhs of local fruit growers.(KNS)