Omar promises forest rights for Gujjars

Srinagar, Sept 12: National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah on Thursday questioned the promises made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding the future of J&K post-Aug 05, 2019.
Speaking at a public rally in Kahara, Doda, he accused the BJP of failing to deliver on their promises of jobs, development and investment in the region. “None of these promises have materialised. The people of J&K are facing numerous challenges such as unemployment, lack of development, and inflation. The BJP neglected the needs of the people and pushed them into difficult situations,” he said.
The former chief minister said the locals in Doda are struggling to find employment in local projects. “They are facing high utility bills without adequate water and electricity, elderly citizens are not receiving their pensions, roads remain in poor condition, and hospitals and schools need significant improvements,” he said. “The BJP must answer where is the new dawn? Where are the jobs? Where is the investment?” he asked.
Abdullah said the BJP was “merely using empty slogans” to appeal to the Gujjar community, without taking any significant steps towards implementing forest rights.
“Our Gujjar brothers and sisters are still waiting for their fate to change, but when the NC comes into power, we will prioritise granting them their rightful forest rights. We are committed to improving infrastructure in Doda and the Chenab region, with a focus on enhancing tourism, roads, healthcare, education and employment opportunities. These initiatives will be at the forefront of our agenda,” he said.