DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
JAMMU, Apr 10
The BJP candidate from Jammu-Reasi Parliamentary Constituency Jugal Kishore Sharma today accused the successive Congress governments and its allies of pushing the youth living close to the International Border (IB) to wall by pursuing communal politics that blocked all employment and educational opportunities for them.
Sharma, who addressed a series of public meetings in border Panchayats, including Garkhal, Gurah Manahsan, Sajwal, Pindi, Pragwal Lower and Upper, Bhalwal Mulloo, Sungal Lower A & Sungal Lower B, Sungal Lower C, Sungal Upper, Bandral Khurd, Pangiari and Rajachak, Mawa Brahmana, Jamotian, Kaink Jagir, Dhok Jagir, Bhalwal Brahmana, Bhiri Tarai, Jadh Panjgrain, Dhok Khalsa, Chak Bhagwana, Jourian, Bandowal, Maira, Devipur, CK Pur, Bomal, Kotgarhi and Gurha Brahmana East and West, got overwhelming reception in these areas where the border residents joined the BJP leaders in large numbers and raised slogans, “Abki Baar 400 Paar”. “Congress and its allies in Jammu and Kashmir subjected the border youths to gross discrimination on religious and communal lines.
While a four percent reservation in government jobs and admission to higher education institutions was granted to the people living along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri and Poonch districts, the same privilege was denied to those residing along the International Border. This discriminatory approach was followed to fulfill communal objectives,” Sharma said.
“The denial of reservation to youth living close to the International Border closed off significant avenues of employment and educational opportunities for them as they were denied the benefits enjoyed by their counterparts along the LoC due to political motivations,” he said.
The BJP candidate further said, “What added salt to the injury was the Congress government’s decision to revoke the Dogra certificate which further disadvantaged the young individuals belonging to the Dogra community in this region, inhibiting their prospects of joining the security forces”. Sharma said the border residents have been delivered justice by the Modi government which not only embarked on raising massive infrastructure in border areas but also ensured four percent reservation for border youths living close to the International Border.
“By extending reservation benefits to youths residing near the International Border, the Modi government has unequivocally conveyed that there is no room for discrimination against border youths based on religious lines, a practice perpetuated by successive Congress regimes for the sake of vote bank politics,” he said.
Sharma said that the infrastructure development in border areas has remained top priority of the BJP government. “The Government of India under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a significant emphasis on bolstering the border infrastructure. Among the various initiatives undertaken, the construction of bunkers along with high-quality border roads stands out as a crucial measure aimed at enhancing national security and ensuring the safety of citizens residing in border areas,” he said.
BJP Star campaigner and former MLC, Vibodh Gupta in his address, said the prevailing ceasefire on borders is due to a strong government at the Centre and has yielded good dividends.
“The residents living along the border used to experience migrations caused by cross-border shelling. It is due to the decisive policies of the Modi Government that the incidents of cross-border firing have not only ceased, but also previously uncultivable land on the Zero Line is now being cultivated without any fear,” he said.
Prominent leaders who accompanied Jugal Kishore Sharma included District President BJP and Former MLA Rajeev Sharma, VC DDC Suraj Singh, DDC Sharda Bhau, Former MLA Dr Krishan Lal, Jagdish Bhagat, Daljeet Singh, Narinder Singh Bhau, Bharat Bhushan, Capt Soba Raam, Jai Singh, Ranjeet Singh, Sahil Sharma, Mandal President Bhupinder Singh, Manga Raam, Dalbeer Pawar, Balvinder, Ram Saroop, Yash Pal and others also present at the occasion.
