Congress Stands With the People of Jammu & Kashmir Against New Land Laws: Sawhney
‘The People of Jammu & Kashmir Reject the New Land Laws, Will Not be Fooled by the Promise of Development’: Sawhney.
District Congress Committee Jammu-Urban, on Tuesday, paid tributes to the late Congress veteran leader Pt. Mangat Ram Sharma ji on his 4th death anniversary. A two-minute silence was observed in memory of the late leader. Pandit Mangat Ram Sharma was a revered Indian politician, who had served as Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir as well as speaker of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. During his long political career and having served in many important capacities, he had earned the reputation as a great leader and remained a stalwart politician in J&K.
In the meeting, DCC Jammu (U) In Chg Dist President and former Minister Yogesh Sawhney recalled the achievements of the late Congress leader and said that his contributions towards the erstwhile state cannot be surpassed. Sawhney said that he was always greatly concerned for the poor and downtrodden people in society and worked hard for their upliftment and empowerment. He also contributed tremendously to strengthening the party at the grassroots level and remained humble despite his great accomplishments in life.
Following this, DCC members in a regular meeting, carried on with the agenda of the day and agreed on taking up the task of creating awareness among the people of J&K about the new land laws and expose BJP’s politics of betrayal and false promises. Sawhney, while addressing the meeting, attacked the BJP leadership in Jammu for supporting the new land laws rolled out by the Centre despite their reluctance and awareness of the laws’ dire implications for Jammu and Kashmir. He said that all people in the Union Territory unitedly oppose the new order, and Congress stands in their support. It’s not the stand of a single political party but the stand of the entire people of Jammu and Kashmir. J&K has seen zero growth and development since the last one year after it was shamefully and unconstitutionally demoted to the status of a Union Territory so what development are they promising now? asked Sawhney.
He said “All they have to show for in favour of the land laws is big empty words like ‘development’ while they conveniently ignore the very valid arguments of the people. An organised and legally allowed infiltration of outsiders into a distinct land such as this will call for increased crime rates, endangerment of our culture, facilitating a demographic change, and the imperilment of a protected environment among others. The decision has been forcefully thrust upon the people of J&K without consensus and their agreement. As J&K has many vulnerable areas which need protection and not exposition to exploitation, these laws are condemnable and unacceptable.”
He also questioned whether the BJP in J&K itself agrees with the promises of these new laws and if it is supporting them only in the fear of dissension from their party. The Centre says that this shift in land policy will usher in development and growth, however, the Centre has been reiterating the same lies again and again since the last one year, he said. The amended laws spark fears among the locals, the youth and every citizen of J&K for an utter lack of consideration from the government.
Seeking legal safeguards for the people of J&K in the protection of their land, jobs, and rights, Sawhney stressed upon people’s rejection of the new laws. The Congress leader further demanded revocation or suitable modifications in the new land laws which he termed “unjust and exploitative in nature”, and stated that the government should not engage the people of J&K by snatching their jobs and land considering the already prevalent dearth of facilities for them. They should act on their promises of safeguarding the people of J&K which came after the abrogation of Article 370 last year.