Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, June 29: Charging People’s Democratic Party of using youth as fodder of its political cannon, National Conference on Sunday asked it to answer for devastation caused in Jammu and Kashmir in desperation to gain the power.
“PDP-BJP nexus to unleash Amarnath land row agitation being no secret anymore, PDP owes an explanation as to who plunged the youth in Kashmir to destruction to destabilise democratically elected National Conference led Government”, Provincial President Devender Rana said while addressing a day long Youth National Conference along with Minister for Planning Ajay Sadhotra here this afternoon. The convention was organised by Shafqat Mir, District President YNC.
Mr Rana described the 2008 agitation as PDP’s vengeance of being denied continuation to Mufti Sayeed as the Chief Minister, saying BJP volunteered to be a facilitator in PDPs sinister game-plan by raising passions in Jammu. He said the contours of the agitation were dangerous, worst than 1947, as the two parties nearly succeeded in polarising the people on communal and regional lines. The devastation caused in both the regions had almost closed the prospect of state getting back to normalcy but for timely intervention by National Conference which took the plunge to restore sanity, he added.
The Provincial President said that after effects of the agitation did benefit the saffron brigade in Jammu and opportunistic outfit in Kashmir to some extent but people gave their clear mandate to secular forces which formed the Government much to discomfort of PDP. “This development was hard to digest for the PDP which encouraged 2009 and 2010 unrest by exploiting youth for their petty politics”, he asserted.
Mr Rana gave an overview of the efforts made by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in restoring peace and normalcy and steering the state on the path of progress and inclusive development.
Mr Rana and Mr Sadhotra described youth as the vibrant face of National Conference, saying they have much role to play in socio-economic transformation of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. “We have many hopes with the youth who have proved beyond doubt to have the capacity to steer the state to peace, progress and development”, they said urging them to come forward in a big way for strengthening the hands of youthful Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Mr Sadhotra gave an elaborate overview of the youth-centric policies of National Conference, saying Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for Youth (SKEWPY) has been specially tailored for the youth to enable them start their own ventures and to become entrepreneurs rather than employees.
“The programme is ambitious, innovative and most suitable to job market”, he said and hoped that the eligible youth will benefit from SKEWPY and contribute in terms of increasing productivity and ensuring employment to skilled and unskilled work force.
The Minister said participation of youth in decision making is good omen for vibrant democracy. He said the energies of youth and experience of the elders will give a blend of dynamism to National Conference and help it meet the challenges with fortitude.
Speaking on the occasion, Provincial President Youth National Conference Jammu, Surinder Singh Bunty said that youth have never shirked their responsibilities and have remained in the forefront to face any challenge confronting to the State.
District President Mr Shafqat Mir, while addressing the convention raised issues pertaining to the youth and hoped that special drives would be launched in border districts like Rajouri for providing ample opportunities of employment to the young people.
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