Urging upon the Centre and State Govts to ensure evacuation of all J&K labourers stranded in other states, JKNPP chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh Monday lambasted the present dispensation for its failure to prepare any exit plan for these helpless people. “The Govt has announced to bring back 376 J&K students stranded in Kota, Rajasthan and only recently 205 Kargil residents were safely evacuated through state sponsored planes and brought back to their native lands. Likewise, the UP and MP Govts have initiated process for safe evacuation of their labourers and students held up in other states. HP too has brought its students from Kota through its state transport. The J&K Govt, however, had failed to even initiate any steps for bringing back its distressed work force facing turbulent times in other states” regretted Singh. He was holding a dharna in Jammu in support of the stranded labour class today. Accusing the Govt of following two different sets of norms for the rich and poor, Harsh Dev demanded the evacuation of stranded labourers in various states by airlifting them. Referring to the eviction of several influential people from various states by airlifting them, Singh sought similar facility for J&K labourers stranded in other states. These labourers were confined in small unhygienic rooms with even 50-60 people holed up in single rooms. “They not only faced threat of corona infection but were suffering starvation due to non availability of food and other essentials. Several labourers had complained of deteriorating health conditions with no medical aid being provided to them. Facing worst nightmares in alien land, the said labourers were repeatedly requesting for their safe evacuation with none in the UT to listen to their shrill cries”, Singh regretted. While highlighting pathetic plight of these labourers and other poor daily wagers held up in other states in most distressing conditions, Harsh Dev appealed the Lt Governor to ensure their safe evacuation and return to their homes. He said that these poor labourers were working in various states having nightmarish experiences in the wake of lockdown. They had to undertake agricultural operations back home which season was also at its peak. If not brought back, then farming operations would also be adversely affected resulting in loss of their livelihood. He said that he would continue his dharna if immediate policy was not prepared for their safe evacuation.
