JKPCC leaders protest ‘discrimination, bank failures’, seek restoration of statehood

Jammu, Jul 05: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Chief Spokesperson, Ravinder Sharma, on Saturday led a strong protest demonstration in Sunderbani, raising serious concerns over the functioning of the SCARD Bank, alleged discrimination in road project allocations, and demanding the early restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.Addressing the protesters, Sharma expressed grave concern over the failure of SCARD Bank to release deposits of farmers, which has caused panic among the farming community. He called for a high-level inquiry into the affairs of the bank to ensure that the hard-earned deposits of the people are secured and promptly disbursed. The Congress leader urged the Chief Minister to order an immediate investigation into the bank’s operations, emphasising that crores of rupees deposited by farmers across the region remain inaccessible. He pointed out that the bank has 57 branches, including 24 in Jammu province, where farmers are the primary clients, and highlighted the urgency of addressing their grievances.The protesters also highlighted the stark discrimination faced by Sunderbani in the recent sanctioning of road projects. They said that no roads from Sunderbani have been approved this year, despite numerous projects being sanctioned for other constituencies, including Nowshera and Kalakote. The demonstrators demanded answers from the government and questioned the failure of current authorities to ensure justice and equitable development for Sunderbani.The protesters called for the early restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, criticising the dual administrative system that persists even after elections, which they termed as injustice and betrayal towards the people. They asserted that the ongoing suffering across all spheres of life necessitates urgent action to restore their constitutional rights.Earlier, Ravinder Sharma addressed a workers’ meeting in Sunderbani, condemning the delay in restoring statehood and vowing to intensify the “Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq” (Our State, Our Right) struggle led by the Congress. He announced plans for a strong protest on August 5 to press for the re-establishment of full statehood.