Harsh Dev welcomes Amit Shah with black flags

Seeking restoration of statehood and conduct of assembly elections in J&K, Mr Harsh Dev Singh former minister and NPP president today held a dharna at Jammu and welcomed the union home minister, Amit Shah with black flags. Carrying placards which read “Riyasat ka darja wapis do”, “Jamhuri nizam bahal karo”, “Bijli paani de na sake jo woh sarkar nikammi hai”, “ Berozgar yuvaon ke saath dhokha karne wali sarkar hai hai” the NPP leader staged a solo dharna under the open sky for several hours unmindful of the soaring temperatures and scorching summer heat.

Giving reasons for today’s protest, Mr Harsh Dev said that while the govt had spent crores on the visit of Amit Shah for holding his political rally and even for his welcome campaigns, the general masses were being made to suffer for even the basic amenities including adequate water and power supply. He said that the govt which did not have money to pay wages to daily wagers, which failed to clear liabilities of workmen under MGNREGA, had frozen the vacancies and failed to provide jobs to unemployed youth due to scarcity of resources, could not afford adequate power supply to public due to rising overdrafts, was unable to meet the developmental needs of people due to resource crunch was using the public exchequer to promote and fund political campaigns of the ruling party.

Mr. Harsh Dev Singh regretted that the acute power crisis had made the life of common man miserable all across the Jammu region including Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi, Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban during the ongoing summer season. He said that scheduled and unscheduled power cuts during scorching summer with soaring humidity had thrown life out of gear in both urban and rural areas and clamoring and grievances of people going un-heard and unaddressed. He regretted that despite the pathetic plight of the people, the mandated leaders of the Saffron Party had failed to pay any head to their concerns and were holding celebrations of 9 year rule. Ridiculing the tall claims made by the State and Central Govt. on good governance, he said that the people of Jammu especially the aged, ailing, traders and the children were having the horrific and gruesome experiences of the much proclaimed ‘Achhe Din’ of the BJP Govt.

Mr. Harsh Dev Singh further sought the accountability of the govt. and questioned it regarding the fate of 150 MMT dedicated coal mine which was promised to be allotted to J&K in the “Agenda of Alliance” for establishing a thermal plant. He further sought a response from the Central Govt. in respect of the assurance given by Union Power Minister for provision of an additional 440 KV Transmission Line from Jalandhar to Jammu as an alternate Northern Grid connectivity.

Mr Harsh Dev said that resentment against the BJP was all time high in view of total disconnect of the administration with the common masses and denial of popular govt in the erstwhile state. He said that pathetic plight of educational and health institutions facing chronic deficiency of staff, pathetic condition of rural roads, denial of civic amenities, rising prices and rampant corruption had sparked massive outrage with an apathetic regime showing complete disregard for the woes and sufferings of the general public.