National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana today described Jammu and Kashmir Domicile Law as unjust and betrayal with educated unemployed youth here, saying this should be withdrawn forthwith to pave the way for widespread consultations with all the stakeholders to evolve a robust safeguard mechanism in the larger interests of the bonafide locals.
“All political parties should rise above politics andcommit themselves to the just cause of our youth and speak against the law inone voice,” Rana said in a statement.
He said the law in its present form is disastrous for theyouth of J&K in general and those in Jammu in particular, who may have toface the main brunt with jobs going to outsiders.
“Our youth are second to none and have proven theirworth in various national level competitive exams but when it comes to jobs, itshould be understood that those coming from far-off areas or belonging toweaker sections, scheduled castes and tribes, the level play field is not thesame as elsewhere in the country due to poor infrastructure and educationsystem,” the Provincial President said, asking if a special provisioncould be envisaged in various states like Himachal Pradesh and North East withregard to exclusive rights of local youth over all category of jobs why thesame is being denied to J&K youth.
The avoidable deprivation could lead to alienation of youth,irrespective of region, religion or caste, he cautioned, saying the bonafideresidents are feeling terribly let down and betrayed beyond imagination.
Rana also referred to the timing of announcement of the newlaw and said the people, grappling with the pandemic of corona virus like otherparts of the country and the world, are shell shocked and dumb stuck over theinsensitive, illogical and irresponsible move, which has belied all theirhopes, especially in the backdrop of assurances held out and promises made bycentral leaders from time to time in recent months.
What could be more irony than that those looking for specialdispensation to overcome the burgeoning unemployment problem in Jammu andKashmir are finding themselves pushed to the wall and nowhere to go, he saidand urged the Centre to revisit the law in deference of the overwhelming wishesof the people.
He questioned the rationale behind opening the jobs foroutsiders when the local youth were struggling for sustenance in the wake ofmeagre job avenues available here in the absence of organised corporate sectorand big business houses. The new law will snatch their only hope with outsidersusurping the already scarce jobs at the cost of their survival, he said, addingthat the youth of Jammu will be worst sufferers.
The Provincial President said the people across Jammu areparticularly worried with this measure, wondering as to whether they deservedall this, after having been stripped of the status of state, a proud legacybequeathed by Maharaja Gulab Singh to the posterity.
Rana also regretted the restrictions being imposed on theagitated youth, who want to give vent to their anger and anxieties in ademocratic and peaceful manner.”This is against the democratic ethos ofyoung India where youth have every right to express themselves and raise theirlegitimate issues freely and fearlessly within parameters of theconstitution”, he said, hoping the Centre will respect and respond to thegenuine concerns of the youth, who are undergoing a spell of unease after thepromulgation of the unjust domicile notification.