From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha for telling a delegation of the Kashmiri Pandits that they should not be begging.
Addressing a corner meeting near Satwari Chowk in Jammu, he said Sinha should know that they are asking for their rights and not begging. He also asked him to apologise to them.
He narrated how those in Jammu earlier used to do business that has been snatched away from them by the outsiders. Entire trade in J&K is done today by the outsiders, and the locals look askance.
Rahul said J&K has the highest unemployment as the only route available to the people here was the Army, but even that has been snatched away by the BJP under its Agnifeer scheme. It takes a minimum of 7-8 years. He said the BJP people do not understand ethos of the Army, wanting the youths trained in six months while it takes years for a soldier to be perfect. He said this scheme is to weaken the Indian Army.
Rahul said earlier one used to serve in the Army for 15 years and then get the pension. In Agniveer scheme, the service is reduced to four years and then the soldiers will be sent home without a pension. He said the nation had sought 15 years from the youth in the past and thereafter they get pension for whole life, the nation will respect them and ensure security for life.
The Congress leader said unemployment is growing because the government is working for just two-three industrialists who will capture all the business, ruining the locals. He said this is a recipe to finish small trades and small and medium size businesses who alone can provide employment. He said small traders and small and medium businesses are the backbone whose destruction has resulted in spread of unemployment not only in J&K but all over the country.
