NC committed to women empowerment in J&K: Sadhotra

National Conference Additional General Secretary and Former Minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra today strongly pitched for larger role to women in shapingdestiny of the society, saying their presence in the democratic institutions could be catalyst ofchange in this regard.

“The women continue to suffer from discrimination and conditions are required to be createdfor their rapid growth as equal partners in the decision making”, Sadhotra said whileaddressing public meeting at Bantalab in the Jammu North Assembly Constituency.

Rousing welcome was given by the participants of the public meeting on arrival of Former Minister at venue of the public meeting.He said, the women those marginalized shall have to come forward for their empowermentand economic emancipation.

On its part, the National Conference has all along provided aplatform to them to grow politically, economically and socially, he said while referring to thereservation of 33 percent seats in the civic bodies and now vehemently supported womenreservation bill in the Parliament. As also the various other grass root level democraticinstitutions.

He recalled the political farsightedness and sagacity of the party leadership inincorporating political empowerment and economic emancipation of women in Naya Kashmir Charter way back in 1931.

Sadhotra said the National Conference has pioneered several landmark initiatives like 50percent seats in the Medical Colleges across Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh to open upavenues for girls in medical profession.

The Former Minister, however, lamented over undoing the progressive measures takenduring the National Conference led governments and criticized the BJP for robbing the peopleof their special identity by repealing Article 370 and bifurcating the vast Princely State.
It is agrievous assault on culture, identity and glorious ethos of the three distinct Regions of Jammu,Kashmir and Ladakh, he added.

Sadhotra said the BJP has brought the self respecting people of Jammu and Kashmir tosuch a passé that they are forced to be apprehensive about their lands and jobs for thebonafide state subjects.

The sword of uncertainty is looming large over the subjects in thispart of the country, he added.

Sadhotra said the arrogance of the BJP has grown to such an extent that its leaders are indenial mode for even the promises they made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in thehighest temple of democracy Parliament about grant of statehood and holding of elections.He cautioned the BJP not to test the patience of the peace loving people and soughtrestoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir with constitutional guarantee for rights tolands and jobs to permanent residents.

The Additional General Secretary exhorted the rank and file to further reinvigorate theNational Conference at the grass-root level, saying the blend of experience of the seniorcolleagues and enthusiasm of the young would lead Jammu and Kashmir to surmount all itschallenges on all fronts.

He also called up for a big role by the cadre in the near future, as thepeople have greater expectations from the National Conference, which has a track record ofpublic service and balanced development of all the regions besides welfare of all, irrespectiveof caste, creed, region or religion. History stands testimony to the sacrifices of the toweringleaders in seeking dignified life for the people, he maintained.

Prominent among those addressed the public meeting are S/Sh Raghubir Singh ManhasDistrict President, Rakesh Sharma Youth National Conference President, Ranjit Singh ManhasVice President, Ch Abdul Razak, Ch Noor Ali, Satya Jamwal Women leader, Swaran LataManhas Women leader, Sushma Manhas Women leader, Darshana Bhagat Women leader,Anju Jamwal Women leader, Sureshta Manhas Women leader, Tilak Raj Bhagat District Secretary and others.