Budgam, Dec 30 (KNS): Chairman Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Front (J&KPDF) and former Minister Hakeem Mohammed Yaseen on Thursday said that lofty promises made by erstwhile state and central governments with people of Jammu and Kashmir were never fulfilled and addressed.
Addressing the public rally in the Hariwanina (Gund Darvesh) area of central Kashmir's Budgam district, he said since 1947, the people of J&K are being deprived of their constitutional rights and they have suffered due to the wrong policies of the central and erstwhile state government.
“From time to time, people were deprived of constitutional, economic benefits, which caused alienation among people,” he added.
The senior leader said some Valley based political parties were also responsible for creating mess and political uncertainty in the valley. They failed to adress the basic and ground issues since 1950's and became Yes man's of the central government.
Reacting over recent developments in UT, Hakeem said these decisions have saddened Kashmiris. The expectations of the people are being sidelined by the administration adding that nothing is being done at ground level to meet the aspirations of people.
“We are not against the setting up of any industry but rights of people should be safeguarded before taking any further step. No one should be impacted by such decisions," he said.
The veteran leader said any demographic or population change in the region will not be accepted. The people of region have a unique cultural identity, diversity and any dilution or alteration in it would be not tolerated,” he said.
Regarding the increasing unemployment crisis, Hakeem said the youth of region need a healing touch and it is the foremost responsibility of the government that they should accommodate them in central government departments.
“There is very low representation of youth who have been provided employment or jobs outside J&K,” he observed.
About recent laws implemented in the region, the senior leader urged the central government to hold all such laws till a popular government comes into power.
“Any law cannot be implemented blindly without knowing its benefits and repercussions,” he maintained.
While expressing his anguish over the ‘illegal’ import of Iranian apples to various fruit markets in country, he said such attempts seem to be aimed at discourage fruit growers of Kashmir.
He said apple industry is backbone of Kashmir's economy. Livelihood of lakhs of people in valley was directly or indirectly associated with this age-old business adding that import of inferior quality fruit in the market should be discouraged.
Hakeem urged Union Horticulture Ministry and Director Horticulture Kashmir to intervene in the matter so that valley-based growers are not put to financial losses.
“GOI should levy import duty on Iranian fruits coming from Afghanistan route to make them competitive and to enhance the market value of Kashmiri apples.
Hakeem has urged the government to set up more cold stores in the valley to enhance shelf life of Kashmiri fruit.
He said from the past several years, valley-based apple growers are under distress adding that unchecked import of fruit has compounded thier problems further. "Due to financial cricis, most of fruit growers and traders are unable to repay their bank loans," Hakeem Yaseen said adding the fruit industry which was once the backbone of J&K’s economy is presently on the verge of extinction.
The former minister also slammed the administration for failing to provide water supply to dozens of villages in central Kashmir including various habitations of the Khansahib constituency. He said apart from drinking water cricis, almost all roads in Khansahib constituency were in dilapidated condition. He said Power Development Department is not following any schedule for electricity supply to the consumers. He said it was unfortunate that previous governments and present administration too has miserably failed to reach out to the people in rural and far-flung area to adress their problems and redress grievances. (KNS)