Voters rue increasing joblessness

Our Correspondent

Palampur, March 18

Residents of the politically sensitive Palampur region are unhappy with both major political parties — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.

They said both parties had failed to find solution to unemployment, poverty, declining job opportunities and lack of avenues to generate self-employment. Besides, pick and choose policy being adopted by MLAs and ministers while undertaking development activities has also irked the voters. Notably, Palampur is the largest subdivision of Kangra district.

While taking to The Tribune, a cross-section of society said promises made by the candidates during the last Assembly elections were yet to be fulfilled.

Jagmel Katoch and Sanjiv Baghla, local residents, said during the last Assembly elections, all three BJP MLAs had promised to accord the district status to Palampur. However, nothing had been done so far. The creation of the Palampur municipal corporation had also been hanging fire for the last one year. Another resident, Sandeep Singh, said there should be no place for tainted and corrupt leaders in society and that voters should teach them a lesson in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

He said neither the Congress nor the BJP was concerned about increasing unemployment, poverty and issues being faced by farmers.