Protests continue as people demand degree colleges
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : The recent decision of Jammu and Kashmir government to open new degree college is proving to be a goof for chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad as protests continue to rock many areas of South and Central Kashmir on Saturday against the decision.
The protestors took to street at various places including Quazigund, Narbal, Nagam, Chadoora and Charier-e-Sharief accusing the coalition government of step motherly treatment.
Informed sources told News Agency of Kashmir that hundreds of villagers, including students of higher secondary school, of Qazigund area assembled, this morning, and hold a protest demonstration.
Chanting slogans against local MLA, the protestors accused the government of of ignoring the main part of his constituency.
The protestors also blocked Srinagr-jammu National highway for half an hour which was however cleared by the police and security forces deployed in the area.
“Government has to justify as what criteria was adopted at the time when it short-listed the areas for opening of degree colleges”, a local leader and social worker Rafiq Ahmad Khan told NAK adding that this seems to be a political Hathkanda of the alliance partners who want to divert the attention of unemployed youth from the promises made by the PDP-Congress during the last assembly elections.
The protesting people later went to Y K Pora where they pelted stones towards some government buildings and vehicles.
They were also demanding status of tehsil for Quazigund. “Quazigund is centrally located and Devsar is very far from Highway” a protesting political activist of ruling party wishing anonymity told NAK.
Similar protests were reported from Narbal, Nagam, Chadoora and charier-e- Sharief of district Budgam where people took to streets demanding separate degree colleges for their respective areas.
Sources told News Agency of Kashmir that the residents of these areas held protest demonstrations demanding separate degree colleges and Sub Divisions for their areas.
“Government has announced degree college for Khan Shaib which has very poor literacy rate than other areas which have been neglected for political reasons” a local retried teacher told NAK adding that as compared to Khan Shaib other areas have 68 to 69 percentage of literacy.
“Government has taken up the issue with the central government and special survey of these areas would be conducted in accordance to the guide lines” official sources claimed adding that those areas coming under the preview guide line will be considered for the opening of new degree colleges.