JAMMU: Chairman of JKNPP and former minister, Harsh Dev Singh today alleged that Jammu was being converted into city of Toll Plazas and liquor vends while on the other hand, Government schools are being closed down.
“While the J&K Govt has proposed the disbanding/closure of around 3500 Govt schools, it has approved the opening of over 220 liquor vends in the new UT. And interestingly only 4 liquor vends are proposed for Kashmir as against 217 liquor vends earmarked for auction in Jammu region,” he said, while addressing a press conference, here. Alleging that the proposal to open more liquor vends in Jammu appeared to be a conspiracy against the Dogra land, Singh said that the silence of BJP leaders over the issue was highly intriguing and deserved condemnation from one and all. “Not only had the Govt now proposed a higher number of liquor vends as a measure of resource mobilization from Jammu region, but it also installed four Toll Plazas around Jammu city with two others in the offing. The Govt policy of taxing Jammu and spending in Kashmir is akin to the popular adage of “robbing peter and paying paul”.
It further smacked of a deeper conspiracy. The helmsmen seemed to be scared of the Kashmir leadership and hence Jammu region is being chosen for this noxious liquor trade and Toll Plaza collections”, lamented Singh. Maintaining that the BJP Govt’s policies had sparked massive outrage in Jammu region, Singh called upon the people of Dogra land to unite to safeguard its interest and its honour and dignity. “The city of temples can’t be allowed to be converted into city of liquor vends and toll plazas,” asserted Singh.
Parshotam Parihar (State Secretary-JKNPP), Surinder Chouhan (District President Jammu Rural) and Mohd Maqbool Malik were also present in the press conference.
