Srinagar, Nov 18: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference State Women’s wing President Shameema Firdous on Saturday attacked the BJP government for its “multiple failures” in the past ten years, saying the policies of the incumbent government are taking a huge toll on the lives of the women be it inflation, unemployment.
Presiding over a one-day women’s wing convention held at Town Hall Kupwara, Shameema said, “Naya Kashmir manifesto remains the guiding text for us, and it’s under the guiding light of this text that we have been able to change the fate of our mothers and sisters. Our sisters and daughters are next to none when it comes to competence. However, the policies pursued by the BJP vis a vis Jammu and Kashmir had a very debilitating impact on the progress of our mothers and sisters.”
“Our women were facing a difficult battle for food and dignity, not to mention unemployment. The skyrocketing inflation and exorbitant taxation affect everyone, but women and girls are disproportionately affected. Our mothers and sisters are eating less to ensure that their children don’t go hungry,” she added.
Addressing the functionaries, Provincial President & In charge Constituency Kupwara Nasir Aslam Wani Sogami said that the women of Jammu and Kashmir carry the heaviest burden of the lingering undemocratic rule. “The post-2015 situation has been marked by widening gender disparity in the region. Rising unemployment, development deficit and deepening uncertainty have affected everyone in the region but women are the worst sufferers. Prevailing political or social issues have had a devastating effect on the dignity and lives of our mothers and sisters.”
Nasir added, “We in NC deem it incumbent on our part to reduce these inequalities by providing administrative comfort and cushion to our mothers and sisters. I am hopeful we all together can restore the lost dignity of our mothers and sisters in the manner as was envisioned by Madre Meharban.”
Congratulating the women of Kupwara for turning up in huge numbers, Provincial President Women’s Wing Sabiya Qadri said, “Thousands of old age pensioners, particularly women are being made to run from pillar to post for the past several months now for regularising pension as the payment process has been moved to online mode.” She demanded that the government initiate a hassle-free process to ensure that those who do not have access to the internet are able to update their details.
Successive non-NC govts neglected Srinagar: Tanvir
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Chief Spokesperson and In Charge constituency Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq on Saturday said the incumbent government’s conspicuous silence over erratic power and electricity supply in Srinagar “speaks louder than any antics enacted under the so-called smart city project”.
According to a statement issued by NC, Tanvir said this while welcoming prominent transporter and president of All Mini Buses Association, Hazratbal Adil Chowdhary along with dozens of other members of PDP into the party fold. Passing on good wishes to the new entrants into the party fold, he hoped that the party’s local unit functionaries would benefit from their experience in social service & political activism.
Addressing the functionaries, Tanvir said, “Successive governments after 2015 failed to give direction to Srinagar city’s development. Srinagar has traditionally suffered whenever NC was out of power. The old city of Srinagar has traditionally been neglected by non-NC parties. Since 2015, nothing substantial has been done to mitigate the problems of people living in the old city. The historical edifices of Shahar-e-Khaas are in shambles, the multilayer health facilities in the city haven’t received any productive intervention from the government for years now. The artisans and the marginal traders of the old city have been left to fend for themselves. The people are hankering for drinking water and other civic amenities.”
“The successive government failed to provide safe spaces to the unemployed youth of the Shahar-e-Khaas to pursue their vocations. The alleys and the main arterials are battered. The government is unfamiliar with the problems being faced by the people. The miserable condition of the people living in the Shahar-e-Khaas areas deflates the hyperbolical claims of the governor administration on developing Srinagar,” he added.
Underscoring the need for restoring Srinagar’s “lost glory”, the NC leader said, “The city of Srinagar is the face of the valley. There is an urgent need to have a well-thought-out plan for the city. The plan must espouse investing heavily in affordable housing, providing green spaces, enhancing multiplayer health facilities, creating job opportunities for the youth, and doling out incentives for people involved with the handcrafts sector. It is the NC that is capable of working in this direction.”
