Jammu, July 09: Apni Party Provincial President Jammu and former minister S. Manjit Singh on Sunday expressed displeasure over the “discriminatory approach” towards the SC and OBCs who he said have been deprived of benefits under government schemes.
The former minister, according to a statement issued here, was addressing a meeting here at Panchayat Kot in Kotbhalwal in Jammu district’s peripheral area. The meeting was organised by SC Wing State President, Bodh Raj Bhagat.
In his address, Singh said, “The discrimination towards the Dalits in Jammu and Kashmir should not be tolerated and the officials responsible for not providing benefits of government schemes to the Scheduled Castes and OBC should be held accountable. The government has launched many schemes for the welfare and protection of rights of Dalits in J&K as well, but the present administration is unable to do justice with the poor section of society.”
He said even as five years have passed, the BJP could not fulfill promises it made to the people for the upliftment of the social, economic, and educational status of SC and OBC people in J&K.
Further criticising the BJP, the Apni Party leader said it was not only the SC, but the OBC community also faced a similar fate as their demand for implementation of 27% reservation in J&K still remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, he referred to the underdevelopment in the SC/OBC residential colonies and demanded that these localities should provide needed amenities. He said Apni Party believes in equitable development, an end to discrimination approach towards the SC/OBC and other sections of society.
“Apni Party believes that everyone will be treated equally and accordingly, their localities will be developed,” he said while demanding the holding of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir to end the discrimination and ensure equitable development. He also demanded the restoration of statehood to J&K.
“The downgrading of the historic state of J&K into a Union Territory has not been accepted by the people of both the regions. The voices have grown demanding restoration of statehood,” Singh added.
Meanwhile, Apni Party President Kandi, Kathua, Yasar Choudhary has expressed concern over the loss of property and damage to the road connectivity in Bani and Lohai Malhar in Kathua district following heavy rainfall.
In a statement issued here, Yasar said the people have suffered losses in remote areas, and the roads have also been affected due to the landslides at various places due to the rains. “The administration immediately sent the rescue teams, and restored the closed roads in Bani-Lohai Malhar,” he said.
“The administration should constitute teams for the assessment of losses to the private property and accordingly they shall be compensated for the damages caused because of rains,” he said.
