Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 6: Senior Congress leader Ravinder Sharma has alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah totally ignored the core issues of the people of Jammu and Kashmir regarding restoration of statehood besides legal protection to jobs and lands for local residents.
Reacting to the Home Minister’s address, JKPCC leader said that the promise made on the floor of the house to the people of J&K, more than three years ago, regarding early restoration of statehood, did not even find mention în his tour of erstwhile historical state.
Again it was BJP which had promised to ensure legal protection of jobs and lands for locals, immediately after abrogation of special status. He said the Home Minister dismayed the larger population of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharma regretted that Home Minister was not apprised that ST status was granted to Gujjar Bakkerwals în 1991 by then Centre Govt supported by Congress and Art 370 was no hurdle în the way of reservation to them or Paharis, as wrongly claimed by him. The case of Paharis too stands recommended by Congress and all successive govts since 1989.
The Cong leader further pointed out that Amit Shah also ignored the large scale development witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir due to massive support of Congress and other Central governments, especially UPA-regime, as a result the train service is available up to last end of Kashmir Valley-Baramulla besides large scale infrastructure in health, education, roads sectors, central universities, Medical colleges, hospitals, Super Specialties and two cancer institutes.