*Cong yet to decide on joining PAGD: Mir
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 9: Congress Party today took out a mega tractor rally in border town of RS Puta in district Jammu against new land laws in J&K and anti-farmer bills enacted by the BJP Governmetn at the Centre.
Led by AICC Incharge J&K affairs Rajni Patil (Ex-MP), Secretary AICC Sudheer Sharma and JKPCC president GA Mir, a large number of Congress leaders and party workers today took out a a mega “Tractor Rally” from Gardi Garh near Jammu to border town of RS Pura in district Jammu to protest against the new land laws in J&K and three anti famers legislations of the BJP Govt. Click here to watch video
Enroute rally, AICC leader was accorded grand reception at various places by various leaders including Raman Bhalla, Balwan Singh, Suman Bhagat, RS Chib, Choudhary Gharu Ram, Pawan Raina, Shashi Sharma, Mohan Choudhary, Karan Bhagat, Ramesh Motton and others.
Launching a frontal attack on the Modi led BJP Govt during public address at RS Pura town, Patil said the farmers all over the country are agitating against the new farm laws as they have been pushed to the wall by the BJP led NDA Govt headed by Narinder Modi, which are against their overall economic interests. The farmers were promised to double their income by 2022 but instead have been given a big shock, which shall break the backbone of already distressed farming community. She said over 62 crores farmers are up in arms against the Modi Government’s recent legislations which will drive them from farm owners to farm labours in the hands of rich and capitalists, due to weakening of decades old system of procurement through Mandis based on MSP.
AICC leader said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are already highly annoyed due to the unilateral, arbitrary and unconstitutional decisions of Centre Government on August 05, 2019 and thereafter, disbanding dividing and down-grading the erstwhile historical Dogra state in UT. There is large scale anger over the downgrading of State into UT and almost the entire population seek restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, at the earliest without any further delay. The Congress as well as majority of the other political, social cultural and linguistic organizations have been seeking constitutional safeguards and guarantees for the protection of rights to jobs and land for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP led Central Govt has time and again assured that the rights to land and jobs of the residents of J&K would be protected and safeguarded but the recent land laws opening the sale of land to outside residents has further caused great resentment and anger amongst the vast majority of population in Jammu and Kashmir cutting across religious faiths & political ideologies.
She said the people were already opposing the domicile laws for jobs whereby different categories of non-residents were facilitated to be domicile of J&K. The people are agitating for safeguarding their rights to land and jobs and to protect their identity. She said there is also resentment amongst the youth and students over the recruitment policies and norms apart from denial of 4G facility for over one year. The academic activities have been badly affected in the absence of 4G services during the situation post August 05, 2019 and the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.
AICC secretary Sudheer Sharma lashed out at BJP and Centre Government for anti-farmer legislation against which farmers throughout the country are protesting against their interest and overall independence. He said that the government has deprived the farmers for procurement system by new legislation and went against the interest of farmers for safeguarding the interest and income of farmers.
PCC chief GA Mir said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been undergoing large scale economic distress for the reason of prolonged and stepped up militant activities, increased Pakistan shellings on the borders and the political unrests and uncertainties, bringing almost all sort of economic activities including mainly tourism and pilgrimage related economy to the lowest. The UT Government has imposed various kinds of additional taxes and fees, like road tax, numerous toll taxes in Jammu region, enhanced stamp duty as per state act despite extension of Central Act and recent revision of registration fees besides the proposed property tax and the likely enhancement of power tarrif, which has causing great resentment and anger amongst the people.
He said BJP had given several assurances to the SC/ST and OBC with regard to their rights, especially post abrogation of Article 370, but there is large scale resentment amongst due to non-fulfillment of those commitments. Moreover, establishment of Finance Commission and ombudsman are essential features 73rd and 74th Amendment. The government conducted the elections to the PRIs but large number of seats remained vacant especially in the Kashmir Valley.
Mir while talking to media on Dr Farooq Abdullah’s claim that Congress was part of Gupkar Alliance, clarified that party has yet to decide on the issue. ” We were not in the PAGD meeting at Jammu and when we will sit with them, then every one will come to know about it,” Mir maintained.
Later, a team of senior party leaders led by Rajni Patil and PCC chief GA Mir presented a memorandum on behalf of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee to President of India through SDM RS Pura.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion, included Mula Ram, Raman Bhalla, Balwan Singh, RS Chib, Suman Bhagat, Ch Gharu Ram, Ravinder Sharma, Manmohan Singh, Yogesh Sawhney, Neeraj Kundan-(National president NSUI), Shiv Dev Singh, Th Balbir Singh, Hari Singh Chib, Pawan Raina, Sanjeev Panda, Shashi Sharma, Thomas Khokhar, Satish Sharma and others.
Meanwhile, Congress today received a shot in the arm on the eve of DDC elections when three top PDP leaders who have recently resigned from parent party today joined the Congress party alongwith their supporters.
They are former PDP vice president and Ex-MP S. Trilok Singh Bajwa, former vice president and spokesman PDP Ved Mahajan (Ex-MLC) and former secretary PDP Hussain Ali Wafa.
The three leaders alongwith their supporters joined at the venue of Kissan Tractor Rally at RS Pura. They were welcomed in the party fold by AICC incharge J&K Affairs Rajni Patil and others senior leaders.
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