Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 21: Senior Congress leader and DDC Member from Suchetgarh, Taranjit Singh Tony, today strongly asserted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were born in a State, not a Union Territory, and therefore, restoration of full Statehood is their constitutional right and not a matter of charity.
In a statement issued here today, Tony said, “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been robbed of their identity and rights after the downgrading of the erstwhile State into a Union Territory. The BJP has not only remained a silent spectator to this injustice but has also backstabbed the educated youth of Jammu by allowing non-locals to occupy key positions in educational institutions.”
Tony pointed out that all universities in Jammu and Kashmir are currently headed by Vice Chancellors from outside the region, which he termed as an “insult to the qualified and competent local academicians.”
He accused the BJP of facilitating the extension of tenures to blue-eyed individuals, ignoring deserving candidates from J&K.
“The criminal silence of the BJP proves its complicity. It is shameful that top teaching posts at Jammu University are being filled by outsiders while superior local candidates are being overlooked. This is not just injustice; it is betrayal,” he added.
Tony further alleged that the Union Territory has become a dumping ground for individuals connected to the BJP from other states, depriving the local youth of jobs and fair opportunities.
Referring to the recent incident where the convoy of elected Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was stopped by police on July 13 and 14, Tony said, “This is a new low in democracy. Even yesterday, elected leaders in Rajouri were mistreated. This police high-handedness must stop,” he asserted.
Tony criticized the present administration, including the coalition Government led by Omar Abdullah, saying it is powerless in delivering promises like regularization of daily wagers and lifting of recruitment bans, as real control lies in Delhi.
He referred to the Supreme Court’s directions that Statehood must be restored to Jammu and Kashmir, saying, “Nowhere else in India has a full-fledged State been turned into a UT.”
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