New domicile rules, a gross betrayal with J&K youth: Harsh Dev

 Lambasting the govt over the newly released domicile rules for J&K UT, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh, JKNPP-Chairman and former Minister today described the notification as an obnoxious piece of super-imposed legislation enacted by the executive authority by defying the popular sentiment in the State. Seeking its review in the ultimate interests of the educated youth of J&K, he said that the new set of rules would include several outsiders within the ambit of Domicile Law, entitle them to avail Domicile Certificate and ultimately enable them to encroach upon the share of educated unemployed youth in govt jobs in J&K. Calling for a relook into the provisions allowing outsiders to become domicile of J&K, the NPP Chairman torched the effigy of the BJP led govt asserting that the educated youth of erstwhile State had once again been cheated by the saffron regime.

          Referring to some of the objectionable clauses in the new notification, Mr. Singh maintained that thousands and thousands of labour force, construction workers, traders etc. from various States of the country including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, etc. had been staying in J&K for the last several years and the new rules would automatically make them eligible not only for Domicile Certificates but also for govt jobs in J&K which would operate harshly against the local youth whose share in services would further shrink. Not only that the opening of jobs for central govt employees of other States as also those outside students who pass their 10th and 12th class with a minimum stay of seven years as they would also become eligible for govt jobs thereby depriving the local youth of even the negligible job avenues in J&K. This proposition was in complete antithesis of what was assured to the J&K youth prior to August 5, 2019 and has had the effect of dampening their morals.

          Mr. Singh further expressed dismay over the negligible formalities prescribed under new rules for availing the Domicile Certificate. “It was amazing to know that a simple document like Ration Card, or, Electricity    utility bill or educational record or even a labour card was sufficient for persons from other States having minimum prescribed stay in J&K to become its domicile. Does it not amount to a cruel joke with the unemployed youth of J&K whose employment and empowerment formed the core agenda of BJP’s election manifesto, lamented Singh.

          Describing the new domicile rules released by the BJP govt as gross betrayal with the youth of J&K, Mr. Singh said that the educated  unemployed of the UT were made to face worst nightmares after the State’s Reorganization on August 5, 2019. With not a single post advertized or filled up, the govt was indulging in tantrums and theatrics with empty slogans devoid of any tangible output. The recent notification on domicile rules had come as a bolt from the blue shattering all hopes of the educated youth who were made to wait for the list ten months with false hopes of a better future. The BJP govt must understand that antagonizing the unemployed youth could have catastrophic fallouts” said Singh.