Home guards, casual labourers turn up with hope            

Srinagar, Nov: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s much-hyped rally Saturday witnessed a mixed crowd-from temporary government employees, police personnel in civvies to workers of Peoples Democratic Party, who had come to hear the PM to announce package to address their grievances.

Mohammad Ramzan Sheikh of Sheikh Mohalla, Kulgam, who is a sweeper in the local municipality, said that he has been cleaning roads and drains in Kulgam town form the last 40 years.

“I have come to hear Modi announce an employment package so that I will get regularized in the municipality. I hope PM will announce a package so that unemployed youth, including my children in Kashmir get an opportunity to earn,” Sheikh told KNS before Modi arrived to address the rally.

Irshad Ahmad from Bandipora, who is a platoon Commander in Home Guards of Police, said that for the last 17 years he has been paid a stipend of 500 rupees for 13 days’ work in a month.

He said that 80 men who work as Home Guards were bussed in civilian cabs to Police Headquarters in Srinagar on Friday evening to attend the rally today.

“I have been working as Home Guard in Police for the last 17 years. We were told that Modi will announce hike in our meager stipend,” Ahmad told KNS, adding that hundreds of other Home Gurads from other districts have been brought to rally to hear the announcement.

“We are over-aged now and we demand a guaranteed employment. To hear this announcement from Modi, we have come here,” he said.

Kaiser Ahmad, a business man from Ashmuqam in Anantnag district said he had come to the rally as PDP leadership has asked them to attend it as PM was going to announce major package for Jammu and Kashmir.

Kaiser said that he is a PDP worker and has voted for the party in both the Assembly and Parliamentary elections.

“Scores of other workers from the area have come with me in three vehicles to attend the rally. We expect a big package from Modi so that unemployment and development issues of our state are solved,” he said.

Mohammad Yousuf from Lalipora, Devsar in Anantnag district told KNS that their leader, Sartaj Madni, told them to attend the rally today as PM will be announcing a major relief package for flood victims of last year.

Mushtaq Ahmad of Sumbal said that he is an SPO in Police department and he has been working on a monthly remuneration of 3000 rupees from the last 10 years.

“How can I sustain my family, wife and five children, on this paltry amount? We were told by police to attend the rally because Modi will announce hike in our stipend to 6000 rupees,” he said.

Mohammad Ayoub of Sagam, Kokernag, who is a casual labour, said that he hopes that Prime Minister will announce some package so that they are regularized in the government departments which they work. But he did not mention the department he works in as causal labour.

Nisar Ahmad Sheikh from Kokernag said that he has come to attend the rally “simply because I am a PDP worker and I am against National Conference and Congress parties.”

Hilal Ahmad of Ashmuqam in Anantnag district said that he has completed post graduations in Sociology and Rural Development subjects.

“I hope Modi will announce a package for flood victims of Kashmir, for development and unemployment. Hartal won’t solve our problems. Today, we hope Modi will fulfill our demands,” he said, adding that about two dozen youth have come from his locality to the rally.

Iqbal Ahmad form Lolab in Kupwara district said that if the prime minister and chief minister announce any packages for Kashmir, “they won’t be doing any favour to us”.

“We have voted for PDP in Assembly elections. And with our votes PDP got 28 seats in the Assembly which gave it a platform to form coalition with BJP,” he said.

Bashir Ahmad Bhat of Chrar-i-Sharief said that he hopes that besides unemployment, Modi will also announce to “end the fight with Pakistan.

“We hope Modi announces here today that he will end unemployment in Kashmir. We also hope that he will announce that India will end its disputes with Pakistan,” Bhat told KNS.

A police man, who had come from Baramulla district, but wished not to be named, told KNS that their department had directed them to attend the rally.  “We were asked to come to rally, without uniforms. We had complete directions not to bring mobile phones with us, and also do not show your Police ID cards during checking,” he said, as his other colleagues stood along with him, nodding their heads in agreement. (KNS)