India
Unemployment in J&K highest in 45 years, claims Congress – Times of India
JAMMU: The Congress on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of misleading the people of Jammu and Kashmir over the employment issue, alleging that the Union Territory is currently witnessing the highest unemployment rate in 45 years, the second highest in the country. “Contrary to the claims of Minister Anurag Thakur and LG Manoj Sinha, Jammu and Kashmir ranks second in the country for unemployment with a rate of 28.2 per cent, as per the data,” AICC National Media Coordinator Dolly Sharma told reporters here.
Sharma claims that Jammu and Kashmir is facing an unemployment crisis as around 2.5 million youth are looking for jobs.
“The BJP is making false claims about employment while the reality is that J&K has the highest unemployment in the last 45 years and the second highest unemployment rate in the country under the BJP regime,” she said.
The Congress leader added that “our young women are being hit particularly hard and face the highest unemployment rate in the country at 48.6 percent.”
As of 2019, 65 percent of government posts in various departments remain vacant due to allegations of recruitment fraud, Sharma said, adding that “promises made by the UT administration after the state’s downgrade have largely not been fulfilled.”
“More than 60,000 daily wage earners continue to earn a meagre Rs 300 per day for over 15 years despite promises of regularisation,” Sharma said. “Many youth who had hoped for secure government jobs now find themselves in precarious contract-based roles.”
Onika Mehrotra, Media Coordinator of AICC for Jammu, highlighted cases of corruption and irregularities in recruitment of government employees, citing cancelled selections and long delays in regularisation of contract workers.
“After abrogation of Article 370, the BJP promised employment and industrial growth, but these claims have not materialised,” Mehrotra said. “Instead, the issuance of 12,000 domicile certificates to non-indigenous residents has further compounded the employment challenges for local youth.”
Reacting to LG Manoj Sinha’s claims about welfare initiatives, Ravinder Sharma, senior vice-chairman and chief spokesperson of JKPCC, criticised the government’s behaviour towards vulnerable groups.
“The elderly, disabled and widows have been forced to protest against inadequate pensions and other heavy taxes. The government has ignored their plight, which calls for urgent reforms,” said Ravinder Sharma.
Responding to the BJP’s criticism of the Congress-North Carolina alliance, Ravinder Sharma questioned the BJP’s past alliances and accused the party of aligning with separatist forces in Kashmir for political gains.
“We are countering the BJP’s attack on Congress for seat sharing with NC. The BJP must answer the question of what the BJP and PDP had in common when they shared power with the latter and also with NC when they were part of the NDA alliance. The BJP is in league with various separatist forces in Kashmir for power,” he said.
Sharma claims that Jammu and Kashmir is facing an unemployment crisis as around 2.5 million youth are looking for jobs.
“The BJP is making false claims about employment while the reality is that J&K has the highest unemployment in the last 45 years and the second highest unemployment rate in the country under the BJP regime,” she said.
The Congress leader added that “our young women are being hit particularly hard and face the highest unemployment rate in the country at 48.6 percent.”
As of 2019, 65 percent of government posts in various departments remain vacant due to allegations of recruitment fraud, Sharma said, adding that “promises made by the UT administration after the state’s downgrade have largely not been fulfilled.”
“More than 60,000 daily wage earners continue to earn a meagre Rs 300 per day for over 15 years despite promises of regularisation,” Sharma said. “Many youth who had hoped for secure government jobs now find themselves in precarious contract-based roles.”
Onika Mehrotra, Media Coordinator of AICC for Jammu, highlighted cases of corruption and irregularities in recruitment of government employees, citing cancelled selections and long delays in regularisation of contract workers.
“After abrogation of Article 370, the BJP promised employment and industrial growth, but these claims have not materialised,” Mehrotra said. “Instead, the issuance of 12,000 domicile certificates to non-indigenous residents has further compounded the employment challenges for local youth.”
Reacting to LG Manoj Sinha’s claims about welfare initiatives, Ravinder Sharma, senior vice-chairman and chief spokesperson of JKPCC, criticised the government’s behaviour towards vulnerable groups.
“The elderly, disabled and widows have been forced to protest against inadequate pensions and other heavy taxes. The government has ignored their plight, which calls for urgent reforms,” said Ravinder Sharma.
Responding to the BJP’s criticism of the Congress-North Carolina alliance, Ravinder Sharma questioned the BJP’s past alliances and accused the party of aligning with separatist forces in Kashmir for political gains.
“We are countering the BJP’s attack on Congress for seat sharing with NC. The BJP must answer the question of what the BJP and PDP had in common when they shared power with the latter and also with NC when they were part of the NDA alliance. The BJP is in league with various separatist forces in Kashmir for power,” he said.
