Udhampur, August 18, (Scoop News)- Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party has warned the Railway Ministry of intensifying the agitation and give a call for “Track Par Chalo Aandolan” next month, if the Central Government failed to oust Kashmiri “Stone Pelters” appointed on the posts meant for locals on Kathua-Udhampur-Katra Rail track. “National Panthers Party would hold a panchayat level demonstration aqlong the track from Lakhanpur-Samba-Udhampur-Jammu-Reasi upto Ramban-Banihal against the appointment of “Kashmiri Stone Pelters” on the posts meant for Jammu people.”
This was stated by Mr. Balwant Singh Mankotia, MLA & President National Panthers Party at a press conference here today. He said that Panthers Party has been protesting against appointment of “Kashmiri Stone Pelters” on Katra-Udhampur Railway track for last over twenty days but the government has failed to take cognizance of the serious matter concerning the future of Jammu youth.
Mr. Mankotia said that while Kashmir Pradesh has been reserved for appointing only Kashmiris and special recruitment drives were conducted by State and Central Government for “Stone Pelters” Jammu youth has been neglected in each and every sphere. Now the decision of the Railway Ministry to appoint “Kashmiri Stone Pelters” on the track in Jammu Pradesh has directly hit the interests of Jammu youth.
He also criticised the state government for regularizing the Agriculture technocrats in Kashmir Pradesh and ignoring those from Jammu region. He said that Central University Jammu and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, local industries, MES, FOD, SBI, etc have also ignored the Jammu youth in recruitment.
Mr. Mankotia said that atleast twenty activists of Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party were injured when police resorted to lathicharge on a peaceful protest of Panthers Party which came under attack from “Kashmiri stone pelters” recruited in Railways department under special drive on Saturday but the Railway Ministry has failed to wake up to the serious situation in Jammu Pradesh.
Thousands of workers of National Panthers Party had assembled at Railway Station Chak Udhampur on a call for “Chak Chalo” against the Railway Ministry’s decision to appoint Kashmiri employees on Udhampur-Katra Railway track, said Mr. Mankotia adding he “stone pelters” recruited in Railways and deployed at Udhampur railway station pelted stones on the Panthers Party workers assembled at the Railway station resulting into commotion and police resorting to teargas shelling and later lathicharge on the peaceful protesters.
More than 20 Panthers party worker were injured in the police lathicharge and stone pelting by Kashmiri “stone pelters” recruited in Railways department, he said.
Mr. Mankotia further said that Panthers Party submitted a Memorandum to the Railway Ministry saying that Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party expresses its deep anguish over the Ministry of Railway, Govt of India’s decision to employ Railway staff even for IV Class job on Udhampur-Katra Railline from Kashmir Valley ignoring the local unemployed youth.
People of Udhampur and Reasi district have contributed their land, money, person for seeing the day when Udhampur-Katra rail link becomes operational but the decision of Ministry of Railway, Govt of India to appoint even gangmen and coolies from Kashmir Valley is very disturbing.
There is lot of resentment among the people especially youth over the government decision to appoint people from outside in Udhampur and Reasi districts and demonstrations have been held at Panchayat level against such injustice by Govt of India.
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