Jammu: Major regional opposition political parties in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir held a joint sit-in protest in Jammu against the assault on fundamental rights in the territory besides highlighting other burning issues confronting the people.
Over one dozen main opposition parties including National Conference, Congress, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), CPI-M, Awami National Conference, Panthers Party, Aam Admi Party, JK People Movement, Rashtriya Janta Dal, Shiv Sena, Akali Dal-A besides several social organizations participated in the day-long protest sit-in held at Maharaja Hari Singh Park in the Jammu city the other day.
Prominent among those who joined the protest included IIOJK Congress chapter president Vikar Rasool Wani, working president Raman Bhalla, chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, CPI-M leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Awami National Conference senior vice president Muzaffar Shah, senior NC leader Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, NC provincial president Rattan Lal Gupta and senior PDP leaders Abdul Hamid Chowdhary and FirdousTak.
While addressing the gathering, the leaders said that the basic objective behind the sit-in protest is to seek restoration of democracy in IIOJK besides highlighting other burning issues confronting the general public. “We want revocation of orders related to Property Tax, smart meters; employment to unemployed youth, regularisation of all daily wagers in all departments……and safeguards of land and employment in favour of citizens of Jammu and Kashmir,” they added.
On the occasion, Congress leaders Vikar Rasool Wani and Raman Bhalla said, “People here are frustrated with draconian policies being followed by the present dispensation and hence want early elections. But BJP due to fear of losing elections is deferring it. People through the LAHDC Kargil election results have expressed their desire and also a clear message for the BJP and its government, both at Centre [New Delhi] and in J&K. The government will have to listen to their voice”.
They maintained the problems of people have compounded manifold and there is no one to hear the woes of suffering masses in the absence of elected representatives. They said said there are multiple issues but the common and primary objective is to seek restoration of democracy at the earliest and restoration Statehood and other rights.
CPI-M leader Tarigami termed the protest as a unique of its kind in which all major opposition parties and various other social organizations were unanimous on the demand for restoration of democracy. He added the New Delhi-installed IIOJK administration was making false promises to people and depriving them of their constitutional rights.
NC leaders said that BJP was using the façade of Election Commission as it was scared to face defeat.
