Jammu, 07-02-2023: Having downgraded the State of J&K and subjected it to its proxy rule for the last around four years, the BJP regime had left no stone unturned to crush the aspirations of its people and to rub them contemptuously under its feet. This was stated by Mr. Harsh Dev Singh, Former Minister and Chairman AAP J&K while speaking to media persons in Jammu today.

“With the erstwhile historical state of J&K having been dismantled and downgraded to UT level by divesting it of its statehood status and further, depriving it of the much trumpeted development packages, opening the lands and Jobs of its locals to outsiders, suppressing all critical voices through the coercive apparatus of the govt, demolishing institutions, besides running the affairs of state since June 2018 through proxy rule of centre and now evicting the poor people from their marginal land holdings, the BJP regime appeared to be testing the patience of the people of the erstwhile princely state. He said that the people were being harassed, intimidated and persecuted on one pretext or the other with the latest move of the govt to retrieve the lands from poor and indigent farmers having created massive resentment amongst the even otherwise docile masses. New laws were being enacted for J&K on a regular basis by ‘babus’ in the centre and implemented in J&K without any Legislative nod through the aegis of Home Ministry by taking recourse to J&K Re-organization Act. The people were subjected to the most unpopular rule of outside bureaucrats who lacked even the basic knowledge of the problems of the common masses and had hardly any connection with the people. And the BJP which had been voted to power in the centre continued to use J&K as a workshop holding newer experiments each day deliriously unmindful of the abyss to which it had thrown the people of the erstwhile State”.

      “With no takers for the woes and sufferings of the people, the govt was thriving on fake announcements and fictional accounts of its achievements with nothing tangible to be seen on the ground. People suffered the worst nightmares due to the power and water crisis. The govt failed to act. The people of remote areas continue to suffer ration problems with no takers for their repeated requests and reminders. Several houses and other residential units of poor indigent masses have collapsed in flash floods and inclement weather but none to respond. The daily rated workers of PHE, PWD, Power, I&FC are without wages for several months with none to pay attention to their pathetic plight. The unemployed educated youth were on the roads. The MGNREGA liability has exceeded one thousands crore during the last 5-6 years but none in the govt is there to even console the poor labourers. The academic activity in remote village schools has been paralysed due to acute deficiency of teaching staff. The corruption has become all pervasive with none to question those indulging in open loot and plunder of the states’ resources. And those who have the temerity to question are dubbed as anti-nationals. But despite all this the govt was indulging in incessant chest thumping and claiming to have brought about revolutionary changes. And dissent was being muzzled through the coercive apparatus of the state. The fact of the matter was that the general masses were feeling suffocated and suppressed under the dictatorial policies of the current regime ruling the roost by evading democratic process.



      With justice remaining elusive and the govt being run on the whims and fancies of helmsmen, it was not the rule of law that prevailed in J&K but the law of the Ruler. And in the process, the common man of J&K was being crushed and rubbed under the feet by a highly impudent and authoritarian BJP govt, said Mr. Singh.

Jammu & Kashmir, February, 07: As many as 30 civilians and 31 security personnel were killed and 221 others injured in violence perpetrated by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir in 2022, Lok Sabha was informed on February 7.

Seven civilians and 23 others were injured in the first month of 2023, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in a written reply.

“The government has a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and the security situation has improved significantly in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. “A total of 41 civilians and 42 security personnel were killed and 192 others were injured in 2021,” he said.

The Minister said the government of Jammu and Kashmir has carried out several governance reforms, including in the area of government recruitment and a large scale recruitment drive has been carried out in the most transparent manner after the formation of the Union Territory.

Mr. Rai said, “33,426 vacancies of gazetted and non-gazetted categories have been identified in the government of Jammu and Kashmir, out of which 25,450 vacancies have (had) been filled till December 2022. Recruiting agencies have advertised 7,976 vacancies for recruitment.”

Srinagar, Feb 7 : The Army on Tuesday said it was prepared to give an appropriate response to any adverse aggressive designs of China in the Ladakh sector, maintaining that the integrity of the country was being ensured through physical patrolling and technical means.
“On the LAC, our response to Chinese attempts to unilaterally change the status quo was a swift, undaunted and synergised action by the Indian Armed Forces,” General officer Commanding in Chief of Army’s Northern Command Lt General Upendra Dwivedi said at an investiture ceremony at Badami Bagh Cantonment area here.
“Any adverse aggressive designs or attempts will definitely be met with appropriate posturing of Forces and a strong intent with complete synergy among the three services,” he said.
He said measures to resolve Line of Actual Control (LAC) situation at diplomatic and operational levels are also simultaneously underway.
“I assure you that the LAC in Eastern Ladakh is being dominated by physical patrolling and through technical means and our territorial integrity is being ensured,” he added.
Lt Gen Dwivedi said the Northern Command is in a high state of readiness and morale to face constantly evolving threats and challenges.
“The security situation in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh poses many challenges in terrain and operational dynamics, especially from different adversaries along the Northern and Western borders. We are committed to defending India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while upholding the democratic traditions of the Nation.
“We are maintaining a constant vigil, monitoring all developments and will take all necessary steps to protect our National Interests,” he said.
The Army commander said the Army is prepared to meet any challenges in the future and will always work for the betterment of the people of the region.
“The last two years have brought to the fore newer challenges in the wake of abrogation of Article 370, the Galwan conflict and multiple waves of COVID-19,” he said.
“These challenges have only served to strengthen our resolve to be steadfast and determined in our commitment,” he added.