Congress accuses BJP of doublespeak

Jammu, Mar 16: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of resorting to double-speak in case of demolition notices issued to Nai Basti shopkeepers and 30 refugee families uprooted from the parking site of airport, Jammu.

Meanwhile, BJP legislators Narinder Singh Raina and Vikram Randhawa today joined the protesting shopkeepers in Nai Basti, reiterating their (shopkeepers’) rehabilitation before demolishing their shops.

Earlier in the J&K Assembly, Raina and Randhawa had raised the issue and asked the government to first fulfil the commitment made with the shopkeepers to rehabilitate them while allotting them shops in Chanderbhagha, before uprooting them.

Raina said that the BJP forcefully raised the issue of people in the Assembly as well as with the Chief Minister. “I’ve also spoken to the Commissioner JMC, Divisional Commissioner and other officials for a more humanitarian approach on this issue,” he said.

Reiterating support of BJP MLAs with the agitating people, Raina said that the notice should be withdrawn and allotment should be made before any action on behalf of the government.

He said that the shops were coming in the way of the Express Highway extension. “The government officials along with the state authorities came to the negotiation table and committed that before any action, they would be allotted shops in Chanderbhaga,” he demanded.

In a related development, JKPCC senior leaders - working president Raman Bhalla; chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma; former minister Yogesh Sawhney; ex-MLC Ved Mahajan and DDC T S Tony, in a press conference, accused the BJP leadership and LG administration of backtracking from the promises made to agitating shopkeepers.

“The highest authority of LG administration committed to agitating Nai Basti shopkeepers and sweets were distributed by BJP leaders. But that commitment was not honoured and shopkeepers served notices, forcing them to start agitation,” Congress leaders alleged.

They advocated for the proper rehabilitation of Nai Basti shopkeepers besides seeking immediate settlement of 30 refugee families uprooted from the parking site of airport Jammu, running from pillar to post for six years. They alleged that during the period, 27 persons lost their lives in stress and struggle.

“The authorities are sleeping over urgent issues while BJP leaders are only busy in photo ops and making hollow claims of massive and speedy development under Centre-controlled UT and LG administration,” Congress leaders alleged.

They also raised another important issue of the proposed ammunition depot near residential localities and religious places in Chowadi area. They also sought the intervention of the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister in the matter.

“It is because of delay in grant of statehood and the existing dual power centre that the people are suffering,” Congress leaders alleged and demanded immediate restoration of statehood.