‘Only Cong can protect secular values’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 12: Pradesh Congress Migrant Cell in a meeting here, today appealed the people to cast their vote in favour of party candidate from Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency and president of PCC, Ghulam Ahmed Mir in the ensuing elections.
The meeting was chaired by Migrant Cell PCC chairman, Hira Lal Pandita and among others retired Commissioner Secretary Revenue, Vinod Koul who joined Congress recently, AICC member and former Minister, Raman Matto and Migrant Cell vice chairman, Manohar Nath Pandit were on dais.
Addressing the meeting Hira Lal Pandita highlighted the policies and programmes of Congress party which he said has always worked to take people of all regions and religions along. The Congress believes in the policy of socialism and secularism, he added.
He said Congress is committed to return and rehabilitation of migrants in Valley with honour and dignity and first step in this direction was initiation of PM’s return and rehabilitation package announced by former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh with 6000 jobs as first instance in 2008.
He regretted that the BJP led NDA Government at Centre and PDP-BJP in the State failed to implement this package in letter and spirit. Pandita said with the joining of Vinod Koul the party will be further strengthened in the Valley.
Addressing the meeting Vinod Koul said that only Congress can restore peace and normalcy in the State as the party has a commitment to protect the values of secularism enshrined in the Indian Constitution. He said it was during the UPA rule at Centre that quarters for migrants’ resettlement were constructed in different parts of Kashmir as well as Jagti and other parts of Jammu. The speedy steps were taken for the implementation of package and over 2000 displaced youth were given jobs in first instance, he added.
He said the return and rehabilitation of displaced people from Valley was in the Congress manifesto of 2014 and what UPA did in 10 years for migrants was not done in 12 years of NDA rule at Centre which included seven years of Vajpayee Government and five years of Narendra Modi rule.
The meeting appealed the people to vote for Mir enmass and ensure his victory in the ensuing elections for strengthening secularism and pluralistic values of the State.
The meeting was also addressed by Raman Matoo, Shadi Lal Pandita, Roshan Lal Raina, Ravinder Koul, Sundri Lal Koul, Kiran Raina and others. The prominent persons who were present included Chaman Lal Koul, Bushan Lal Hangloo, B L Thaploo, Avtar Krishan Pandita, Ramesh Kumar Bhat, Dr Rajinder etc.
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