JAMMU: National Conference will oppose all anti people and anti-youth policies and work towards ensuring that the rights and privileges of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are safeguarded under the ambit of the constitution of India.
This was stated by Devender Singh Rana, Provincial President, J&K National Conference, Jammu province while addressing a protest rally here today against the new land laws and forceful restraining of Dr Farooq Abdullah from attending the Eid Milad Un Nabi congregation at Srinagar.
Rana said Maharaja Hari Singh Ji’s 1927 State Subject Law and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullahs’ “land to the tiller” were a shield which ensured that everyone in J&K had a home to live and grain to eat and nobody was shelter less, nobody slept hungry. That protection should be provided to the people of Jammu and Kashmir particularly the poor, downtrodden and disadvantaged.
Devender Singh Rana who was leading a peaceful march towards Raj Bhavan along with senior National Conference leaders Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Surjeet Singh Salathia, Rattan Lal Gupta, Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari, Javed Rana and others were forcefully stopped by the Police.
Terming the anti-people and anti-youth policies of the present administration as a betrayal of the people of Jammu in particular. Rana said time and again the people were assured by the State BJP leaders that their rights to land and jobs shall be protected at all costs, even after the abrogation of Article 370, but where have those assurances gone, Rana questioned the State BJP leaders?
Rana said we are an integral part of India but even the basic protections granted to states such as Himachal Pradesh and others have been denied to the people of J&K.
Describing Dr Farooq Abdullah as a democrat committed to secularism and nationalism, Rana said in view of his immense contribution towards nation-building and sustaining peace, amity, harmony, democracy, progress and development of Jammu and Kashmir during most testing times, it is very unfortunate that he (Farooq Abdullah) was not allowed to move out of his Gupkar residence to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion of Eid Milad Un Nabi.
On being asked by a journalist about the recent killing of BJP leaders in Kashmir, Mr. Rana described it as an act of cowardice, he said: “we unequivocally condemn the incident and express our heartfelt condolences and sympathies with the families of the bereaved leaders”.
He said terrorism has no place in a civilized society. A terrorist has no religion, a terrorist is a terrorist and must be treated as a terrorist and we all have to fight together to uproot the menace of terrorism.
NC Provincial President said we are an integral part of India, we are Indians and our battle is not against the country which is our country but against the divisive ideology and our aim is to safeguard the rights of the people of Jammu Kashmir, and Ladakh as enshrined in the constitution.
Rana said that the unity, sovereignty and integrity of the country cannot and will not be compromised at any cost. He said a strong Jammu and Kashmir will lead to a stronger India and that can only happen when the hearts and minds of the people of Jammu and Kashmir are won with compassion and their dignity and honour is respected.
Addressing the protestors, senior National Conference leader Ajay Sadhotra said that National Conference will fight for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir within the framework of Constitution of India.
Speaking on the occasion, Surjeet Singh Slathia said people of Jammu have always stood for the nation but are totally disillusioned by the wrong policies of the BJP and National Conference will ensure that they are not marginalised.
