NC, PDP responsible for discriminating against Jammu region: Jitendra Singh

Union minister Jitendra Singh on Monday said NC and PDP are bemoaning Jammu's misery and "shedding crocodile tears" over plight of region which is an outcome of discrimination meted out to it during over four deces of ir rule.

Singh, who was here for a BJP election committee meeting to discuss probable candidates for upcoming District Development Council polls, said it was during rule of two parties that civil secretariat was systematically filled with employees from a particular region, ignoring rights of Jammu.

Earlier in day, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti told reporters here that people of Jammu are more upset over abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A by Centre and situation in region is worse than Kashmir.

people of Jammu are "disappointed" as y were "misled" into believing that Articles 370 and 35A benefitted Kashmiri Muslims and ir abrogation would "pave way for flowing of streams of milk, setting up of industries and jobs for youth", she told reporters here.

"National Conference (NC) and PDP are bemoaning Jammu's misery for which y are mselves responsible and are shedding crocodile tears over plight of Jammu which is an outcome of regional discrimination and injustice meted out to Jammu during over four deces of rule of se two political parties," Singh told PTI.

" Public Service Commission was manipulated to fill all vacancies including those in professional colleges and higher education teaching institutions in such a way that candidates from Jammu were left out by design," minister of state for personnel said.

He asked why n PDP-led dispensation in erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir did not implement a central government order dated January 1, 2016, abolishing interviews in selection for government jobs despite his repeated reminders including personal letters to chief minister.

This, Singh alleged, was done intentionally to eliminate written test merit of Jammu candidates by giving m poor marks in interview and denying m jobs.

Modi government is committed to redressing each issue one by one, but let us not forget that this is a baggage of last 70 years and will require at least 70 months to be cleared, he said.

Moreover, Modi government follows a policy of creating employability rar than only focussing on government jobs. This experiment has been successful even in norast where self-employment avenues were created for youth in last six years, he said.