Memorandum containing issues of Pirpanjal region for inclusion in the Manifesto. By M Iqbal Shawl 

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Memorandum containing issues of Pirpanjal region for inclusion in the Manifesto.  Presented by: – Mohd Iqbal Shawl, State Gen. Secretary JK PCC Pahari Cell.

Before your kind attention is drawn to the multidimensional issues and challenges faced by the Pir Panjal region, it would be in the fitness of justice to outline the geo-political conditions of the region, which ultimately would establish the genuineness of the issues, inviting their solutions and inclusion in the intended Memorandum document of the party.
Pirpanjal region comprises of the twin hilly border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, and is situated on the exact Actual Line of Control between India and Pakistan.

The region received its first shocking setback in 1947 when it was split into two parts: one occupied by Pakistan and the other becoming part of the Indian Union as a result of post partition effects. The split witnessed the division of land, population, economy, education, and the entire solid social fabric of the region.

The region served as a battleground to the three consecutive wars of 1947, 1965 and 1971 between India and Pakistan, accompanied by a long bout of militancy. Being on the borders, the region has constantly suffered colossal losses of life and property without any consideration , as a result of intrusions, and perennial shelling from across the LAC .

Added upon this, no serious efforts have been made or measures taken to compensate the losses or rehabilitations undertaken during its long period of sufferings .

The region’s public firmly believes in the leadership of the Indian National Congress, led by the versatile, pro-people, pro-poor young stalwart leader Sh Rahul Gandhi, and takes deep faith in him with the hope that Congress under his vibrant leadership would realise and step forward to mitigate the sufferings of the people of this neglected, suffering region.

Given the facts and circumstances of the region, the people of the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch request that the party to include the following demands as assurances in the Menifesto as Vision 24.

1:- That Pirpanjal Region may become a SEPARATE CHAPTER in the Manifesto of the party for the ensuing Assembly Elections.

2:- That Indian National Congress may acknowledge and accord the STATUS OF A SEPERATE REGION to the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch and treat it as a special status region under Rehabilitation in wake of the annihilating effects of the wars , militancy and constant Shelling, intrusions etc.

3: That Congress may agree with the demand for the constitution of the HILL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS for both the districts to undertake the process of rehabilitation as per the aspirations of the people of the region , being the sufferers of wars and militancy.

4:- That Congress may agree and commit itself to declare the region a SEPERATE PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY to satiate the long stressful feelings of political neglect and deprivation.

5:- That Congress may agree and commit itself for taking up the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation by way of:–

A/ Utilising all the region’s water resources through completion of the pending hydel projects and raising new micro hydel projects to generate electricity with concessional supply to the region, overcoming the power crisis and creating job opportunities for the region’s educated but unemployed as well as the less educated youth.

B/ Congress may agree and Commit itself to exploit the unexplored tourism potential and connect the Virgin tourism destinations of region with international tourism maps , including all:-
Adventure tourism Sites
Religious tourism Sites
Historical tourism Sites.

C/ Congress may agree and commit itself for exemption of Income Tax for all the employees belonging to the Region, either working inside or outside the region being hundred percent Schedule Tribe districts .

D/ All employees working within the region’s shelling range shall receive a special salary in addition to their normal emoluments for performing at the risk of their and their families life.

E:- Congress may agree and commit itself for speedy construction of all proposed tunnels and bridges on the historical Mughal road connecting the region with Kashmir Division on priority to make it ALL WEATHER road .

6:- That Congress may agree and commit itself for taking up THE RAIL LINK from Jammu to Poonch via Rajouri to link the region with the rest of the country , making it possible for the denizens to reach and avail the educational, health and business opportunities at ease and in short time .

7:- – That Congress may agree and Commit for life insurance coverage to all farmers) / residents of the twin border districts and complete remuneration to them in case of the loss of their agriculture in whatsoever conditions.

8:- That Congress may agree and commit to an uninterrupted educational network for the students of the region’s shelling range by constructing parallel educational institutions during shelling times.

9:- That Congress may agree and commit for distributing seeds and advanced scientific tools of agriculture to the people of the region free of cost.

10:- That Congress may agree and commit for providing all facilitiesto the student folk for preparation for competitive ,job-based examinations within the region free of cost.

11: Congress may agrees and commit for a special recruitment package for the region’s youth, with a special age relaxation without the binding of time frame.

12:- Congress may agree and commit for promoting, financing, and granting patents to all rare commodities produced within the region to expose the region’s specialities at the international level and strengthen the economy of the growers.

13:- Congress may agrees and commit for establishing and strengthening of IT SECTOR in the region to overcome the challenge of unemployment , which attracts the youth towards drugs and other subversive activities.

14:- – That Congress may agree and commit for providing advanced health facilities to the people being the denizens of the remote, neglected part of the country living under the fatal shelling conditions throughout.

People of Pirpanjal region
.. through

Mohd Iqbal Shawl
State Gen secretary JK PCC PAHARI CELL.
Dated … 04- 08- 2024.

Mobile. .. 8082060618.