Er Rashid leads protests for IIM, IIT

Independent legislator from Langate, Er Abdul Rashid, Monday staged protests outside civil secretariat here against the alleged discrimination with Kashmir.

He said Kashmir should get IIM and ITT as Jammu has already got lion’s share in the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Program (PMRP) announced by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Along with hundreds of supporters, Er Rashid started protest march from Jahangir Chowk and proceeded towards civil secretariat. He was stopped by a contingent of police.

Raising slogans, he along with his supporters staged a sit-in protest on the road for around 30 minutes.

Talking to media persons, he said that New Delhi has chosen the way of disgracing, ignoring and insulting Kashmiris. “I would like to remind the central government that it had announced on the floor of Parliament establishing AIIMS in Kashmir and IIT and IIM in Jammu province but some senior ministers of central government including Dr Jatinder Singh provoked Jammuites as part of their pre-planed agenda against granting AIIMS to Kashmir. Ultimately it ended up with announcement of AIIMS for Jammu.”

“Kashmiris are not against providing these institutions to Jammu region but we have every right to seek IIT and IIM for Kashmir which comprises major portion of the state. If Union Government can agree to the demand of a handful of people of Jammu district who don’t represent Chenab Valley and Pirpanchal region why should it not establish IIM and IIT in Kashmir? People of Jammu have always got benefits from sufferings of Kashmiri people. The Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme (PMRP) which was meant for militancy-hit areas of the state was badly misused and Ladakh and Jammu regions got the major shares from it,” he said.

Er Rasheed asked CM Mufti Sayed to explain why he should not apologize to Kashmiris for arguing that BJP being in power at the Centre can better accommodate grievances of Kashmiris at developmental front.

“PDP leaders were day and night praising Narendra Modi and promised sky to Kashmiris but now BJP is not only letting Mufti Sahib down but by making Kashmiris to beg for everything union government stands exposed,” he said.

He asked central government to announce IIT and IIM for Kashmir at an earliest saying it should not underestimate the people’s might as Kashmiris will have no option but to take to streets. He stressed upon all political parties and trade organizations to stand up against this discrimination and force Union Government to establish IIM and IIT in Kashmir.