By Bureau Report,Agence India Press,
Srinagar: Asking the government to come clean on the remarks made by state health minister Sham Lal Sharma about the integrity of the state, MLA Langate Engineer Rasheed today said chief Minister’s assertion that these are the minister’s ‘personal views’ is unsatisfactory.
“A cabinet minister cannot go public with such kind of ‘personal views’ which have severe impact not only on the integrity of the State but also can dangerously raise the public tempers,” he maintained.
“The CM is bound to explain why his cabinet minister made such remarks which are hateful and hurtful for people of Kashmir province. If minister’s ‘personal opinion’ is such extreme which goes against the policy of the government, he has no moral ground to remain in the cabinet of the government,”
Rasheed explained adding that if Sharma’s outburst is the official thinking of the Congress, then it reflects treacherous undercurrents. “Hence their needs a response not individually from the parties of the Coalition but from the government itself,” Rasheed demanded.
Asserting that Kashmir suffered immensely during past two decades, MLA Langate said that Jammu politicians are not genuine when they ask equal share from the funds which are earmarked for Kashmir to reconstruct the damage caused during years of violence.
“The GoI announced an educational package of 100 crore for Kashmir in view of the damage caused to education sector during this year’s turmoil, but strangely and unjustifiably Jammu politicians seek share from that one also,” he said.
Referring to the proposed 43000 government jobs announced by the State government, Rasheed said 3000 have been kept for Ladakh, despite the fact that Ladakh is technically part of Kashmir province.
“The rest 40,000 have to be equally distributed between Jammu and Kashmir regions, which is not an equitable share,” he argued. MLA Langate demanded that CM should provide us the details as to how much funds were diverted to Jammu region because of the turmoil in the Valley in summer.
Rasheed said when in the assembly he states that Kashmir is a dispute, BJP and Congress members try to scuttle his voice terming him anti-national. “But now a senior Congress minister has indirectly supported my viewpoint.”
In a statement to Agence India Press, Rasheed said that he believes in the integrity of State and strongly favours equitable development of all regions. “But sadly some Jammu politicians, for their petty political interests demonise Kashmiris and raise the issues of regionalism thus trying to damage the regional and communal harmony of the State,” he said.
“Let Jammu people not be fooled by some of their politicians and political parties, who, to escape from accountability and underperformance, take shield in the slogans of regional disparity,” Rasheed stressed.