Manjit seeks statehood to J&K before assembly polls

Samba, Apr 15: Apni Party Provincial President Jammu and former minister, S. Manjit Singh has demanded restoration of statehood before the holding of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
The former minister was addressing a worker’s meeting at Ramgarh which was organized by the District President, Legal Cell, Samba, Adv Sahil Bharti. District President Samba, Raman Thappa, Block President, Bachan Choudhary among others attended the meeting to discuss the party’s working and present political situation.
The party workers raised various issues faced by the people in Ramgarh especially related to the farmers, canal water and road connectivity.
Speaking on the occasion, S. Manjit Singh issued certain instructions to the party workers on intensifying the public outreach program to educate them about the policy and agenda of development to the people of Ramgarh.
He appreciated the workers for their hard work. Meanwhile, he referred to the concern of the people in Jammu and Kashmir regarding the downgrading of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory.
“The Jammu and Kashmir was a historic state. It was an injustice to continue J&K as a Union Territory. Therefore, it becomes imperative for the Govt of India to restore the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir before the holding of assembly elections,” he said.
He said that Jammu and Kashmir is considered as a crown of the country and its glory must be restored before the assembly polls.
He however expressed concern over the delay in the elections for Jammu and Kashmir’s Legislative Assembly although the democratic activities have increased in the wake of the scheduled parliamentary elections.
“The party is committed to keeping the two regions united and providing equal opportunity to the youth for employment. The elected government must restore the confidence among the people which is lost because of the bureaucratic system in Jammu and Kashmir,” Singh said.
The Apni Party leader said that in the present style of governance, public opinion is not considered. Hence, it has resulted in the widening of the gap between the people and the bureaucracy,” he said.
In this regard, he said holding the assembly elections in J&K is necessary because an elected government can address public issues.
He referred to the issues of border residents in Ramgarh, compensation, KCC loans, canal water for irrigation purposes at the tail-end villages, unscheduled power cuts, construction of bandh along the rivers for the protection of the agricultural land, etc.