NC to fight for restoring statehood to J&K: Paul

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 26: Former Minister and president of National Conference Central Zone (Jammu, Samba & Kathua), Babu Ram Paul today reiterated the stand of NC for restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and said party would continue to raise pitch for same as this issue is directly affecting all its residents.
He was addressing the gathering of party workers during a public meeting at Bishnah in Jammu district. Rampaul said, “We stand committed for secularism and social equality. The National Conference has a legacy of serving the poor and weaker sections of the society which was started by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.”
He said many revolutionary steps were taken during the NC rule in J&K. Sheikh Abdullah is remembered as great reformer who took many steps for the poor farmers and deprived sections of society. But with the obliteration of statehood and downgrading J&K to the level of Union Territory, the suffering of the people got multiplied with the public facing the wrath of inflation and high prices of the things of daily use. The business community, small traders and commoners are all suffering due to policy paralysis and deep rooted corruption at all levels. Their sufferings can only be redressed by restoring statehood to J&K, he asserted.
Paul flayed the UT administration for turning deaf ear to the problems of people residing in villages. He highlighted the issue of old age pension and mentioned that nearly 75 percent applications have not been touched whereas another 25 percent applications are under process and kept pending for want of several documents. He said that growing unemployment was a matter of great concern as the present regime has miserably failed to create job opportunities for the youth.
District president, Jammu (Rural-B) Naresh Bittu reiterated his resolve to continue making efforts to consolidate the party in his area of operation. He said, “We have to take the vision of our party leadership to every nook and corner of Jammu and Kashmir for its development and benefit of people.”
Raghubir Singh Manhas, District president Jammu (Rural-A), Zonal Secretary Dr Vikas Sharma, senior leaders TR Mandi, Bharat Bushan, S S Sasan also spoke on the occasion.