Srinagar, Sept 13: Senior Congress leader and national spokesperson Salman Anees Soz on Friday urged the people of Jammu & Kashmir to support a government formed by their own representatives.
Addressing a press conference here, he highlighted the potential benefits of an upcoming National Conference (NC) and Congress alliance, which he claimed would be dedicated to addressing the region’s needs.
Soz sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing them of marginalising the people of Jammu & Kashmir and undermining their rights. “BJP’s policies had stripped the region of its statehood and diminished local dignity and respect. Youth unemployment in J&K is now the second-highest in India and women’s unemployment is among the worst in the country,” he said.
He also alleged that the BJP government has further disenfranchised locals by awarding key resources and contracts to outsiders. “Even the rights to local sand resources have been taken away, depriving residents of essential economic opportunities,” he said.
If the Congress-NC alliance comes to power, Soz promised that they would ensure job and land security for the people of J&K. He also introduced a proposal for a financial support scheme, offering Rs 3,000 per month to female heads of poor families as a measure to combat unemployment and social inequalities.
Soz criticized the current administration, saying that governance should be returned to elected representatives rather than being managed by unelected officials. “The Congress-NC alliance would restore democratic governance, bring transformative change and rebuild the people’s trust in leadership,” he said.
The Congress leader accused the BJP of dividing people along religious and regional lines. “The Congress-NC government would focus on unity, prosperity and the protection of the rights of the people in Jammu & Kashmir,” he said.
