Out of power political leaders continue to throng to Summer Capital Srinagar’s Pratap Park, where National Youth Corps (NYC) members are on hunger strike from past fortnight, demanding their regularization.After former Speaker Mubarak Gul, former Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmed Mir, it was former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad who visited the venue and assured his full support to the striking NYC members on Thursday.
Pertinently, during National Conference-Congress rule in State from 2008 to 2014, NYC members observed hunger strikes at a stretch and on daily basis took to streets in favour of their demand, but then NC-Congress government did not budge and every time police used to flex their muscles on these protesters. In June 2012, these National Youth Corps Volunteers called off their nine-day long hunger and protest programme following assurance by then Youth Services and Sports Minister R.S.Chib that their demands will be taken care of. Since then, no heed was paid to their demands and the then Ministers assurance only proved hoax. Again in 2013 these volunteers staged 72 hour hunger strike that was foiled by police. “Protesters were beaten up and dragged out from the Press Enclave Srinagar.
After the summer agitation in 2010, hundreds of youth were engaged by the then government in various government departments for 2 years, with a sole motive to keep the young ones away from the stone-pelting. On completion of term, verbal extension order was issued on June 3, 2012. Then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had announced that 8000 youth have been provided government jobs, but at present these volunteers feel that what Omar Abdullah had termed as government jobs was not so in real terms.“It is surprising to see out of power politicians thronging to Pratap Park to express solidarity with NYC members little did they realize that when in power they did nothing for them,” an on looker told CNS when Ghulam Nabi Azad visited Srinagar and assured them he will take up the matter with the Government.Meanwhile, these NYC members including females continue to observe hunger strike. Scores of them so far have been admitted in hospitals after deterioration of their health. Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu’s two time visit to the venue and his verbal assurance failed to persuade these protesting members who have already witnessed ‘trickery and deceptive’ politics so far. (CNS)