Jammu, Sept 26: Apni Party’s contesting candidate and former minister, S. Manjit Singh, raised concerns on Thursday about the alarming rise in unemployment and increasing crime related to drug addiction and smuggling in the Vijaypur constituency, which he claims is being protected by political influence.
“Your vote for the Apni Party will protect the future of your young generation. I will fight for their rights, their future, development, employment of the local youth, and for making society crime-free,” Singh said during a public meeting in the Vijaypur Assembly Constituency.
He said that criminal activities have surged and drug addiction poses a severe threat to the future generation. “The police and administration are acting as mute spectators because the criminals and drug peddlers are enjoying political patronage,” he added.
The Apni Party leader urged people to cast their votes wisely to change a political system that, according to him, has corrupted society and endangered families. “Families have lost their sons, and in some cases, we have seen girls become addicted. The police arrest small-time peddlers, but the major suppliers (drug lords) remain untraced because they are allegedly protected by political parties,” he claimed.
Highlighting the issue of growing unemployment, Manjit also expressed concerns over the lack of local employment in the industrial sector in Samba District. “The government allotted land to industrialists to create jobs for local youth. However, these youth are being deprived of jobs, with non-locals being employed in both skilled and unskilled roles instead,” he said.
Singh urged the people to support him in the ongoing elections and vote in his favour to ensure that industrial sector jobs are reserved for local youth, thus addressing the rising unemployment crisis. “I will fight for the rights of the locals, ensuring that resources currently grabbed by non-locals are handed over to the local unemployed youth,” he promised.
He also criticised the development over the past decade under BJP-controlled bureaucracy, saying, “Development has taken a back seat, and there has been no connection with the people. The gap between the people and the government has widened due to unilateral decisions.”
Singh urged the people to vote for a change that would transform their lives and bring much-needed development to Vijaypur.
