By News Agency of Kashmir,
Jammu : The Jammu Muslim Co-ordination Committee has sought the intervention of Governor NN Vohra so as to end the apathy of the state government towards the Muslims living in Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur and Reasi districts of Jammu region.
A delegation of Jammu Muslim Co-ordination Committee led by its convenor Prof Zahoor-ud-Din and comprising of its executive members including Ashiq Hussain Khan, Choudhary Hameed, Abdul Gani Kohli, Abdul Gani Teli, Bashir Ahmed Rafeqee, Choudhary Muhammad Fareed, Abdul Sattar Rather, Qazi Ishtiyaq Ahmed and Advocate Abdul Aziz Qureshi today called on the governor, here today.
The delegates draw the attention of the governor towards the alienation being felt by the Muslims of Jammu region not only due the incident of recent past but also “owing to the apathy of the state governments ever since the dawn of independence”.
In the memorandum submitted to the governor, the delegation claimed that the Muslims of Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur and Reasi districts of Jammu region were reeling under about poverty which needs to be alleviated by envisaging some special schemes or programmes.
“The unhealthy conditions of life and financial discrepancies do not allow them to benefits themselves of the fruits of technical and scientific education. Therefore they have very meager representation in the IAS KAS, Medical Engineering cadres or civil secretariat and none in the judiciary particularly High Court, Banks etc”, the memorandum reads adding that it is therefore necessary that they are also provided reservation at various level is government and private employment as is done in the case of other socially deprived communities.
It reads further, “The Muslim students of these areas even fail to seek admission o the best institutions, universities of the state simply because they cannot afford to pay for the private accommodation”. Even the hostel facilities provided by the state institutions/ universities are so costly that they fail to avail themselves; it said adding that it was necessary that some hostels are constructed for Muslim students pursuing studies in Jammu.
The co-ordination committee further claimed that the coaching classed for competitive examination is organized by the state of the capitals as such benefits reach only to few and a large number of students belonging to for flung areas fails to reap the benefits. It was demanded that the coaching facilities be decentralized in a manner as university campuses are decentralized.
“During the recent agitation about 300 kullas of the Muslims living in areas around the Jammu city were looted and burnt down. They have not been adequately compensated nor were the healings brought to book”.
The Muslims localities of Jammu as well as other cities also need special attention; the members of the Federation said adding that they lack adequate sanitation, road electricity and water facilities. They have also right to live like civilized citizens of the state.
The delegates urged the governor to “come to the rescue of the community by issuing and envisaging special schemes for alleviation of the lot of the Muslims”.