Larnoo Kokernag, Feb 23: The Chairman of Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) &
Fomer Chief Minister J&K Ghulam Nabi Azad asserted that he will bring back the Roshni Act
Scheme that had benefited thousands of poor people across Jammu and Kashmir if voted to
power in the elections. Mr Azad was speaking to thousands of people at Larnoo, Kokernag
where prominent political leader from ST community Chowdary Haroon Khatana joined DPAP.
Mr Azad said that it is unfortunate the scheme has been scrapped and the land provided to poor
people under the scheme is retrieved by the present dispensation rendering thousands of families
homeless overnight. “The land of Jammu and Kashmir belongs to its people be it Hindus or
Muslims, Sikhs or from any other religion, caste. No government has the right to snatch it from
the people,” he said, adding that his party vociferously fought the public issue and compelled
the government to stop the eviction drive. Azad further said that across Jammu and Kashmir
fear and anxiety is prevalent among the common masses and he wants to remove it from their
faces and minds. He said no society can ever prosper and grow amid the prevailing fear and he
will make sure no person is harassed and lives a dignified and peaceful life. “I don’t want the
police knocking on anybody’s door. When I was the Chief Minister of an erstwhile state,
hundreds of militants surrendered and vowed to live a peaceful life. But the things seem again
disturbing and my efforts would be to ensure all are safe and peacefully living and earning their
livelihood if my party comes to power,” he added. He said no government has the right to declare
70% of UT’s population as encroachers if few people have misused the law and grabbed a large
chunk of land. “We have back-to-back crises in Jammu and Kashmir. Not only people feel
insecure but economically, the poor are crushed with soaring electricity bills, water charges and
now property tax. My aim is to build Jammu and Kashmir as a welfare state where the economy
of people grows to an extent, they are willing to pay taxes themselves,” he said. He said forcible
imposition of taxes on people amid dwindling economic opportunities is not at all a good idea.
The DPAP chairman said that he enjoyed power throughout his political career but his aim is
now only to benefit the poorest of the poor since he can’t see the sufferings of people. “The only
option to change the lives of people is to give up bedroom politics and fight anti-people policies
on ground the way we did during land eviction drives by the government. There is no substitute
to it,” he told his party workers. Thousands of people swelled to the rally of Azad and vowed to
continue their work and reach every home with the party’s pro people agenda. Among others
who attended the public meeting were DPAP Treasurer Taj Mohiuddin, Ghulam Mohd Saroori
Vice Chairman, General Secretary R.S.Chib, Mohd Amin Bhatt Provincial President, Gulzar
Wani Ex MLA & Zonal President, Aslam Goni Ex Advocate General & WC Member, Salman
Nizami Chief Spokesperson, Muneer Mir Distt President Kupwara, Bashir Arif Secretary DAP
Chairman, Peer Shahbaz DDC, Mushtaq Khanday Distt President Shopian, Sujada Bashir
Spokesperson, Khalid Tufail, Mir Altaf, Waseem Yaqoob, Ubair Mushtaq, Dr Asif Khanday,
Hakim Javid, Choudhary Anwar Phambra, Choudhary Mamtaz BDC Chairman, Sajida Begum,
Ghulam Qadir Wani, Bashir Wani, Maqbool Shah, Haji Nazir, Ali Rathar, Gani Mir, Farooq
Choudhary, Ghulam Qadir Wani, Qari Mohd Ashraf & others.
