Jammu, Sep 10 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir’s Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma on Thursday welcomed the upcoming BRICS Summit in India, saying the participation of member countries would contribute to the country’s strength and development.
He expressed hope that the summit would be fruitful and significant for India’s all-round development and progress. “Every Indian should welcome it,” he said.
“The BRICS Summit brings together countries and powers that are, in one way or another, connected with India’s strength. Their participation in the BRICS meeting in India is welcome,” Sharma told reporters here.
On the controversy over Vande Mataram, Sharma said the bill passed by the Parliament to ensure respect for the national song was binding on everyone and had to be followed.
“I don’t think anyone should have any problem with this. We do not have very high expectations from Congress. The party has always insulted the country and its institutions,” he said.
Reacting to threats issued to Kashmiri Pandits, the BJP leader said there was no place for such threats under the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The Kashmiri Pandit community is a brave one. They have fought and faced these challenges and threats in the past as well. There is no place for it today,” Sharma said.
Sharma said the BJP would raise the grievances and issues faced by various sections of society, including the daily wagers, in the upcoming Assembly session.
“Until two-three years ago, daily wagers in Jammu and Kashmir were being paid nominal amounts as wages, which were not being provided under any specific rule or law,” he said.
Thanking Lieutenant Governor Manoj Singha for implementing the Minimum Wages Act, Sharma said around Rs 9,300 is being credited to the account of a daily wager.
“I believe this has restored a sense of dignity among them,” he added.
The LoP, however, said the Jammu and Kashmir government has a responsibility to provide daily wagers and added that their wages should be brought at par with those in other Union Territories.
“For this, the Bharatiya Janata Party will raise the issue of daily wagers. Daily wagers are our priority, and from day one, we will fight for them,” Sharma said.
As the Assembly session is scheduled to begin on September 21, Sharma said the BJP will reach out to people at district headquarters to listen to their problems and concerns.
“We have decided that in every district headquarters, we will meet various stakeholders from society, including those who are suffering, marginalised, exploited or victims, and listen to their grievances, problems and pain, which we will raise in the Assembly,” he said.
As part of the outreach initiative, Sharma, along with BJP MLAs, met around 24 delegations representing different sections of society in Jammu district at the Jammu Convention Centre.
Sharma said the BJP leaders gave a patient hearing to the delegations and assured them that genuine issues would be raised forcefully during the Assembly session.
Sharma alleged that the National Conference government had failed to meet the expectations of people who voted for change, development, employment and better governance.
He claimed that instead of addressing pressing public issues, the government appeared more focused on “excuses, political distractions and rhetoric”, while the concerns of employees, traders, farmers, youth, refugees and transporters remained unresolved.
The BJP leader said his party would continue to remain the voice of the people inside and outside the Assembly and fight for their legitimate rights, dignity, development and a better future. PTI AB AB KSI KSI
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.