Day long Executive and PAC meet in Jammu
The Congress big move to involve AICC for political initiative to safeguard land, job protections under constitution.
Rajni to take up JKPCC call with central leadership
JAMMU, December 16: The congress today decided to seek a big political, democratic and constitutional initiative from national leadership for seeking safeguards for land, jobs, natural resources, cultural linguistic identities and regional/ sub-regional aspirations, like availed by some Northern and other states in the country under constitution by way of Article 371 and to involve other like parties in the country, on this issue.
This approach was adopted by the party after a marathon of three hours meeting of PAC, followed by day long executive meet in Jammu in the presence of AICC Incharge J&K affairs Smt. Rajni Patil, in which a political resolution was adopted unanimously in this regard, apart from a socio-political resolution, after due deliberations. Smt. Patil assured to take up the demand with the centre leadership for consideration and follow up action and hinted at an early meeting of top PCC leaders with the central leadership.
Post Supreme Court verdict on the abrogation of Article 370, the party decided to adopt a political, democratic and constitutional approach for seeking safeguards to the protect the land and job rights besides natural resources, cultural and linguistic identities and address the regional/sub-regional aspirations, as per constitutional scope. The PAC was chaired by Tariq Hamid Kara, CWC Member and attended by Smt. Rajni Patil, JKPCC Chief Vikar Rasool Wani, CWC Member G.A. Mir, Manoj Yadav, Peerzada Mohd. Sayeed, Tara Chand, Raman Bhalla, Mula Ram, Th. Balwan Singh, G.N. Monga, Ravinder Sharma & Yogesh Sawhney.
The political resolution was moved by Ravinder Sharma and seconded by Haji Abdul Rashid while socio political resolution was moved by G.N. Monga and seconded by Th. Balwan Singh. Both the resolutions were unanimously adopted in the meeting, attended by entire leadership from Kashmir and Jammu region comprising PCC Office bearers, Executive Members, District Presidents and Frontal Wing heads
.In order to counter the malicious propaganda by BJP against Pt. Nehru and Congress, the Political resolution recalled and lauded the historical role of Congress party under great leadership of father of nation Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Nehru, Sardar Patel, Dr. Ambedkar, Maulana Azad and other stalwarts for the integration of J&K with India despite being an overwhelmingly only muslim majority state bordering Pakistan and in recognizing the special circumstances and peculiar situations of its accession, thus extending certain guarantees to the people in the shape of Article 370, which have been unilaterally abrogated by BJP in furtherance of their political agenda. The PCC viewed there is enough scope in our constitution to seek safeguards for these rights which can be achieved by a democratic mode by a big political initiative by national leadership of the party by involving other like minded parties also, as in some other states of the county.
The resolution also sought immediate restoration of statehood as directed by Hon’ble Supreme Court and early holding of assembly elections under the state. The party also sought implementation of 33% reservation in the assembly for women in J&K from this forth coming elections, since delimitation has already been done in J&K.
Raising questions over inadequate representation to POJK and KP’s in the assembly, party asked BJP to fulfill commitment of 1/3rd share of POJK seats through elections to them and adequate share to the KP’s besides seeking representation the Sikh Minority and Christians, in the absence of upper house in J&K.
Party also expressed great concern over the recent spurt in terror activities and martyrdom of officers and Jawans in Rajouri-Poonch and Kokernag and demanded the government ensure safety and security of innocents minorities and outsider labourers, who are soft targets.
Hitting out at BJP for the divisive politics, it asked it to desist from further fragmenting the society, as people are awakened now of their divisive politics.
In the socio-economic resolution it took strongly on BJP and UT administration for wrong economic politics & huge taxations of various sorts which are anti-poor , anti-youth, anti-employees, anti-farmers amidst huge unemployment and unprecedented price rise.
Questing BJP for its promise of two crore jobs annually and depositing black money in their accounts, the party said people now demand return of olden days, It referred to recruitment scams and demanded a high level commission to probe and sought filling up of all vacant posts on fast track basis and creation of more posts in all departments to absorb unemployed.
Party also support employees demand for old pension scheme and termed it a just demand and should be conceded.
Criticising the Govt. for its anti employees approach banning their protests, it asked the government to resolve their genuine issues besides regularisation of all daily/need based, contractual and other temporat employees in different departments.
It also strongly came down on the Govt. for stopping old age, widow, handicapped pensions and demanded it to be restored and enhanced
The party also demanded waving off KCC loans, immediate stopping of arrears of irrigation tax, tool tax, property tax, smart meters besides free power to poor families.
The Party also criticized the failure to enhance the financial relief to the Kashmiri migrants, grant of full package of 2014 to POJK refugees and demanded immediate action on these just demands.
It also expressed concern over the new excise policy, opening of more liquor shops and sideling of locals in the trade. It was also highly critical of the loot of natural resources, posing threat to environment and cleverly sidelining the local contractors in the projects.
Demanding restoration of old practice of Darbar Move, it said that government action has adversely affected the economic interests of people of both regions especially Jammu region and stopped cultural exchanges between people of two regions.
It also demanded withdrawal of import duty exemptions to US apples, at the cost of local fruit growers.
Main Highlights of today’s Congress event of day long Executive and PAC meet:-
• Remembered the victory of 1971 Bangladesh liberation this day and paid tributes to the martyrs in the war, lauded leadership of iron lady Smt. Indira Gandhi and the Army.
• Political and Socio-Economic Resolutions adopted Unanimously.
• Congress to take big political initiative by involving central leadership for approaching like minded parties in the country, to adopt a democratic and constitutional approach for seeking safeguards, under constitution for the land, jobs, natural resources, cultural and linguistic identities and address regional/sub-regional aspiration, on the pattern of North-Eastern and several other states, enjoying under Article 371.
• Restore Statehood and hold assembly elections under statehood without delay.
• Hold ULB and Panchayat elections under SEC without delay.
• Give reservation to OBCs like SC/ST and women in PRIs.
• Restore Darbar Move practice.
• Reservation to Paharis without disturbing existing reservation of Tribals, ALC and RBA people.
• Stop Agniveer, hold regular Army, Para Military recruitments and take massive recruitment drive in border/LOC and backward areas for Army and Para-forces.
• Fill up all vacant posts on fast track basis.
• High level probe into recruitment scams.
• Restore old pension scheme(OPS) of employees.
• Stop atrocities on employees.
• Regularize all Daily wagers, need based in government and semi government like NHM, REK, HDF, Social Welfare and ICDS (Aganwadi workers and helpers) SPOs, Home guards, MGNREGA workers and other such categories.
• Waive off KCC loans.
• Stop recovery of arrears of abolished Abiyana (irrigation tax).
• Double the ration scales for poor and common man and restore sugar scales.
• Review excise policy which has deprived locals in the trade and stop opening of liquor shops.
• Stop loot and illegal exploitation of local mining resources, threat to environment.
• Change the nefarious eligibility conditions for contracts to protect rights of local contractors.
• Restore widow, old age and handicapped pensions and enhance/revise the same.
• Withdraw property tax, smart meters, toll tax, and other unreasonable increase in taxes.
• Free power to poor and regular power supply.
• Withdraw import duty exemptions to US apples, at the cost of lakhs of local fruit growers.
Copies of Resolutions:-
Political Resolution
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee Executive recalls historical role
played by Congress party under the great leadership of Father of Nation Mahatma
Gandhi , first Prime Minister Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru alongwith great stalwarts
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad and
others in the integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India and in
recognizing the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the
Constitution of India, extending certain guarantees in the shape of Article 370, in
view of the special circumstances and the peculiar situations in which J&K
acceded to India, rejecting the two nation theory of Pakistan, on the basis of a
theocratic State, despite being an overwhelmingly, the only Muslim majority State
bordering Pakistan.
The BJP government in furtherance of their political agenda has unilaterally
removed those guarantees and downgraded and divided the status of the
historical State into UTs whereby the people have lost their identity and rights
to land and jobs and natural resources. The Hon’ble Apex Court has up held the
constitutionality of the government action.
In a democracy, the only course available to the people is to seek certain
protections to their lands, jobs, natural resources, status, cultural and linguistic
identities and their regional and sub-regional aspirations under the constitution,
as guaranteed in the constitution by way of certain provisions like Article 371 to
several other states including North-Eastern States, as well as, few other states in
the country also.
The Jammu and Kashmir Congress assures the people of Jammu and Kashmir
to work with the national leadership of the party for taking on board other like
minded parties in the country to come out with the mechanism to fight for the
constitutional safeguards for the protection of people’s rights to lands and jobs as
well as resources and other cultural and linguistic identities and other regional
sub-regional aspirations and diversities of the people of J&K.
More than four years after the historical State was dismembered, downgraded into
UT, the government failed to fulfill its commitment on the floor of
parliament regarding the restoration of the statehood & rather sadistically UT
divas was celebrated by the government on 4 th year of the downgrading of the
State, further hurting the sentiments of people. Now the government has assured
the Hon’le Supreme Court to restore the same and the Hon’ble court has directed
the government to restore the state as early as possible. The J&K Congress
demands that the government to restore the state without any further delay and
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hold elections to the State Assembly at the earliest which have not been held for
more than five years from when due.
The ULB & Panchayat elections too have been deferred, leaving no trace of
democracy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress forcefully demands immediate holding of ULB & Panchayat elections
without delay. The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee has already
raised the issue with the government, vide letter dated 13/9/2023 through CEO,
seeking elections to these bodies under State Election Commission ( SEC) in
accordance with amendments 73rd & 74th , with due reservation to OBCs like
SCs STs & women which was already incorporated & implemented by the
Congress in J&K like in other parts of the country.
The Congress has ensured 33% reservations to the Women in the country in the
Rural & Urban Panchayat Raj Institutions by way of 73 rd & 74 th Amendments and
had been pushing for one third reservation to women in the legislatures of the
country for long and had passed the bill in this regard in the Rajya Sabha during
UPA II but could not be passed in the Lok Sabha due to lack of required support
from other parties. Now the government has passed the women reservation bill
but the same shall be implemented after the completion of census and fresh
delimitation.
Since the delimitation has taken place in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress
demands that women reservation be implemented from this forthcoming
assembly elections.
The POJK displaced persons and the Kashmiri migrants have been seeking
representations in the state legislature. The BJP had promised one third share of the
seats reserved in POJK but instead has provided only one seat under nomination to
them which is inadequate as per their population claim of around 15 lakhs and that
too under nomination quota. The government should fulfill its commitments to
them in this regard.
The Kashmiri migrants too have been given only two seats under nomination
quota, which should have been by way of elections under special provision of
reservation and commensurate to their population.
Similarly the demands of Sikh minority and Christian community have been
ignored by the government and Congress seeks provision for their representation
in the legislative assembly in view of the abolition of the J&K Legislative
Council.
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Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee expresses it's deep concern over
the recent spike in the terrorist incidents, leading to loss of several precious lives
including that of the army, police and security personal and other innocents. Step
up in the terrorist activities has been witnessed in certain areas, especially in
Rajouri-Poonch, which were earlier cleared off the terrorism, as per official claims.
We are together in our resolve to defeat terrorism in order to achieve an
atmosphere of everlasting peace and overall security. However it is the government
which is duty bound to ensure the safety and security of all, especially of the
minorities and non local workers, who have been becoming the soft targets, in
recent times, whereas the centre government and UT administration are making
tall claims of normalcy.
The issue of reservation to Paharies was recommended by the successive state
governments from time to time, so while doing so, the existing quote of RBA,
ALC & Tribals should not be disturbed, Needless to mention that the ST status to
them was sanctioned to them by the then centre government supported by
Congress party. Till now BJP/government has failed to explain as to how the
government will create a balance.
The Congress party is concerned the way BJP is using the issue of reservations,
only to further fragment the society, as part of their polarization tactics. BJP must
understand that now the people are aware of the BJP’s divisive mode of politics
and BJP better desist from nefarious tactics for the sake of petty electoral gains.
The meeting condemns the recent security breach in Parliament, which is matter of
great concern for which the opposition demand for a statement in the house by
Home Minister, is quite justified. It is ironic to note that a government which
claims to have brought down the militant activities all over the country could not
prevent this attack in the Parliament House.
Socio-Economic Resolutions
The BJP had come to power on the promise of providing two crore jobs annually to
the youth of the country besides bringing ‘good days’ for the common people by
checking price rise and inflation etc. apart from other such things like bringing
black money and depositing into their accounts.
The Centre government and the UT administration in J&K has brought lot many
miseries for the common people through huge taxations amidst unprecedented
price hike and record unemployment, coupled with series of recruitment scams
which have frustrated the unemployed youth.
After experiencing over 9 years full of miseries, due to wrong economic policies of
the BJP government, the people are so fed up, that, now, they have started asking
the Prime Minister, to kindly return their olden days, which were free from such
economic oppressions.
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee has been fighting on the
streets against the wrong policies of the BJP Govt. and UT administration of
burdening the common man by way of huge taxations and record breaking
unemployment and unprecedented price rise, affecting every household, loot of the
local resources in the hands of outside contractors, at the cost snatching of rights
of the local contractors, traders and workers, besides installation of smart meters,
property tax and several other new taxes as well as multiple increase in the taxes
and fee, fleecing the common man.
But the BJP government and UT administration remain in denial mode, continue
making exaggerated claims, not acknowledging the magnitude of the
unemployment problem besides the hardships being faced by every common man
while conditions of poor are worst.
JKPCC demands immediate filling of all vacant posts in the government and semi
government institutions through a credible agency on fast track mode. The party
also demands creation of required number of posts in all departments in all cadres,
including in education department, to deal with problem of unemployment and to
remove the negative impact on the youth and students, who are discouraged a lot
for higher education, seeing a bleak future for themselves.
The party strongly demands a high level independent commission to investigate
into multiple recruitment scams and other such allegations by the agitating youth
whose voice is not being heard and to identify the culprits.
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The recruitment to army and Para Military forces was one of the main source of
employment and an inspiration for the youth of the border state to serve the nation
but the launching of the ‘Angiveer’ scheme has been a great set back to their
dreams. We demand that old system of recruiting youth to army be restored, with
special focus on the border areas and near LOC, facing brunt of Pakistan firings.
Special recruitment drives especially in border and backward areas be held at the
earliest.
The experience of CUET for attaining higher education has proved to be very bad
for poor children and thousands of rupees were charged by the authority spent by
parents this year, in taking CUET examination in the scorching heat. The
government must make it optional for students and provide/ facilitate free
education up to university level, as was the past practice.
The educational institutions especially colleges in rural areas are without proper
infrastructure and facilities especially lack of faculty, even after several years of
their establishment, which amounts to playing with the career of poor children. The
government must provide all necessary facilities & faculty including science
stream in all colleges.
The party also strongly criticizes the authoritarian approach of the government
towards it's employees and which recently banned any peaceful protest, for the
resolution of their long pending issues, which measure is anti democratic and direct
attack on the rights of employees and semi employees, temporary, adhoc,
contractual and daily wagers & others etc.
The temporary, adhoc, contractual, daily wagers and need based in different
departments and semi government institutions besides those engaged under various
schemes like NHM, REK, HDF, Social Welfare, ICDS (Aganwadi workers and
helpers etc), SPOs, Home Guards, MGNERGA and such other like categories
seeking regularisation & other redressals, have been denied by the Government.
The party demands that government shun it's anti employees and stubborn attitude
and address their genuine issues and fulfill the commitments of regularization and
enhancement of wages, without further delay.
The Congress party fully supports the employees demand for restoration of old
pension scheme (OPS) and demands that the Govt. should immediately concede
their just demand.
The farming community is also one of the worst victims of the policies of the
government. The failure of the government to grant fair MSP and lack of timely
setting up of ‘Anaaj Mandis’ in rural areas leads to low rates to the crop production
to farmers.
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The government has failed to transfer the benefits of crop insurance scheme to
farmers and insurance companies are beneficiaries of the same. The farmers don't
get financial assistance for the crop damages. The non availability to poor quality
of seeds & fertilizer and pesticides, on escalated prices are other problem of
farmers. The recent order of GOI, reducing the import duty on US apples, is a
direct attack on the livelihood of lacs of horticulture growers of Jammu and
Kashmir, which they feel is well thought-out nefarious design of economically
weakening the people of J&K.
The recovery of arrears of abolished ‘Abhiana’ (irrigation tax) for farmers is
totally anti farmers and illegal and should be stopped immediately.
Under the existing conditions, the KCC loans of farmers should be waived off.
Dr. Manmohan Singh government had sanctioned a major relief employment
package for Kashmiri migrants, while the employment package is still being
completed but the relief component has not been revised/enhanced despite long
protests by the migrants.
The Congress demands immediate revision of package and enhancement of relief
component.
The common people are suffering a lot due to unprecedented price hike of all
commodities and multiple taxations.
In order to give relief to the people who are already hard pressed, the Congress
demands government should withdraw property tax, remove illegal toll tax, stop
smart meters besides providing free power to the BPL people. The Govt. should
also ensure regular power supply to the people in both the regions as the people
are suffering lot of hardships on this count.
The party demands that in order to give relief to the common man the scale of free
ration as well as for other categories should be doubled besides restoring the old
scale of subsidized sugar to each family.
The BJP Govt. has converted the city of temples to city of wine shops apart from
opening of several such shops in rural areas, the people are highly resentful over
the new excise policy of the J&K government whereby the outside and influential
contractors have snatched the rights and the livelihood from the local traders, the
Congress party demands review of the policy protecting the rights of the local
people in the trade.
The rights of the local people in the mining activities has been snatched by the
present policy of the BJP government whereby the resources are being exploited
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illegally by the influential mafia destroying the environment and the water
sources. The Congress demands immediate policy to protect the rights of the local
people apart from unchecked exploitation of the resources and threat to
environment.
The government has very cleverly drafted the eligibility for the government
contracts whereby the local contractors are being systematically sidelined. The
congress party demands immediate review of the policy to ensure that local
contractors are not deprived of their rights and livelihoods.
The worst sufferers in the present regime are the old age , widows , and
physically handicapped who have been stopped their pensions and are protesting
on the roads but the insensitive administration is unmoved. The congress demands
restoration of their pensions at door steps and enhancing the same as per the
revived price index immediately.
The present government at the centre and UT administration has been making tall
claims of development in the UT in various sectors. Needless to mention that the
UPA government had brought about massive development in Jammu and Kashmir
in various spheres including Railways, highways, Medical colleges, institutions
and learning of higher education like US, NIT, IIM and every other sphere,
whereas the present government has not been able to timely complete the several
major projects sanctioned and initiated by the UPA government headed by Dr.
Manmohan Singh but making hollow claims.
Further in the name of development, like in the case Smart City the government
instead of bringing relief to the miseries of people, has put them to further
hardships by narrowing the width of the roads and indulging into other wasteful
expenditures in the name of beautification, apart jeopardizing the traditional
environmentally and ecologically compatible constructions.
The present government has stopped the practice of Darbar Move which has
adversely affected the economic interests of people from both regions were
particularly Jammu region and has affected the social and cultural exchange
between two regions. The Congress demands the continuance of old practice of
Darbar Move.
(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)
