J&K sarpanch delegation meets union ministers, seeks delimitation exercise

NEW DELHI: A group of panches and sarpanches from J&K met central ministers on Wednesday to discuss the condition of J&K after the withdrawal of Article 370 last year.

The delegation met ministers Nitin Gadhkari and Jitendra Singh among others. The delegation questioned the Centre’s promise of ‘development’. “How long will we wait? Show us the development. It has been six months now! We demand that the government should immediately hold delimitation exercise and restore the statehood of J&K,” said Mir Junaid, who led the delegation.

The delegation also drew attention towards the high rate of unemployment. “There is high unemployment in each and every district of J&K. More than 2,000-3,000 unemployed youths are in my district. Similar numbers of youths are unemployed in other districts. Due to communication and internet blockade, business had been badly hit. The average Kashmiri doesn’t deserve such curbs. We have been patient for last six months but government should now restore full communication and internet facilities,” said the recently elected block development council chairman from Tangdhar, Riyaz Ahmad. Another sarpanch Abdul Rahim Mir said the helicopter services for remote places in J&K have been suspended.