SRINAGAR – Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday took a strong exception to the priorities of Union Territory Government saying that instead of rechristening names of roads and buildings, the focus should have been on addressing the issues and sufferings of people.
Referring to the decision of Jammu and Kashmir administration, by virtue of which, it dropped “Sher-i-Kashmir”, from the title of government owned convention centre ‘Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre’ and renamed it as Kashmir International Conference Centre, Bukhari in a statement said that by changing names of landmarks, the priorities of the government seem less rapt about the day-to-day difficulties faced by the people especially the unemployed youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
“It is highly unfortunate that the present dispensation in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has started indulging in selective tokenism, with its administration not able to grapple with the complexities and challenges of governance,” Bukhari remarked.
He said that instead of focusing on public welfare measures and addressing issues of basic amnesties the government has restored to kind of chicanery in order to cover up for its ineptitude and mal-governance.
“Thousands of youth who appeared in JK Bank examination and lost two precious years because of an arbitrary decision of J&K government are craving for simple attention. Similarly, thousands of daily wagers, contractual lecturers, ITI trained labourers, daily rated workers and other causal labourers have been left with no option but to go for strike and protests,” Bukhari said, adding that instead of listening to them the UT government has left these important sections of the society to the mercy of ruthless policing.
He said changing names of roads, tunnels and buildings can to an extent plough a polarised terrain to fulfill the political motives and satisfy the ego of few persons but this renaming frenzy provides no solution to the unending sufferings of the people.
“Rather than expending on renaming the sign boards of buildings, historical roads and tunnels, the government could have explored the means to release pending salaries of daily wagers in Jammu and Kashmir,” the president of JKAP observed.
Dropping ‘Sher-e-Kashmir’ title an attack on history of J&K: Tarigami
Srinagar: The state unit of CPI(M) on Tuesday slammed the government’s move to remove the title of ‘Sher-e-Kashmir’ from the international convention complex here and termed the decision as a ‘brazen attack’ on the history of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement issued here, CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said that removing NC founder’s name was a brazen attack on the history of Jammu and Kashmir and to undermine the contribution of the leadership headed by Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah who preferred secular India over Pakistan by rejecting the two nation theory.
“Sher-e-Kashmir is not just a title but a glorious chapter of history in Jammu and Kashmir. We might have difference with Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah but that doesn’t mean we should undermine his and his colleagues historic role which they played right from their advent on the political scene,” Tarigami said.
“The contribution of the Quit Kashmir Movement led by him for the upliftment of the people and revolutionary changes in agrarian sector and education laid the foundation of ‘Naya Kashmir’ which unfortunately is under attack since BJP came to power at the centre, especially after August 5 last year,” Tarigami said in a statement,” he added.
He alleged that the BJP is known to have a grudge against that movement and want to rewrite the history. He said but it was not easy to erase the historic contribution of our people and the leadership”.
“Dropping the public holiday on 13th July, Martyrs Day and on the birth anniversary of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah followed by removing the title of Sher-e-Kashmir from state award and police medal and now renaming Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre as Kashmir International Convention Centre exposes the dubious stand of the BJP time and again. BJP can welcome with open arms anybody when it feels its need but will not hesitate in punishing him/her, when it opposes their disastrous policies,” the CPI (M) leader said.
“The slapping of PSA against three former Chief Ministers who all worked with BJP for some time is an eye opener for anyone who is lured by the saffron party,” he added.
He said that what happened on August 5 last year was a historic blunder and a unprecedented assault on the basic structure of our republican constitution.
He said right thinking people, groups and parties including CPI (M) have challenged the revocation of special status under Article 370 and Article 35A and downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories in the Apex Court.
“It remains a duty for all secular democratic forces to raise their voice at every level against this unconstitutional Act. We must unite demand restoration of whatever has been snatched from our people including the constitution of Jammu & Kashmir,” he said.
“We cannot look at the emerging situation in isolation. That will only amount to playing in the hands of those working behind the scene and aiming at disrupting our unity. The time demands all of us to stand together at this crucial juncture of our history and safeguard the interests of our people,” he added.
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