UPA removing troops from J

Jammu, Nov 26 (UNI) Former Minister of State for Defence Chaman Lal Gupta today accused the Congress-led UPA government of lowering troop deployment in militancy-infested Jammu and Kashmir to save its coalition at the Centre.

Despite the reports of continuous infiltration bids and circulation of hawala money for the fresh recruitment of militants, the troops are being removed and the Village Defence Committees are being left high and dry by not being recognised as also the allowances to the Special Police Officers, Prof Gupta said while addressing a public rally at the border villages of Kaleeth in Chhamb sector.

The BJP leader also ridiculed the claims of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad that his government had rectified the regional disparities.

''The political fraud being played with the people of Jammu still remains there as they have been denied due representation in the State Assembly as also in the services although Jammu was having more voters and almost double the geographical area,'' Prof Gupta stated.

Jammu region has just 37 Assembly seats against 46 in Kashmir.

Similarly, Jammu has two Lok Sabha seats against three for Kashmir.

The BJP leader asked the people to realise their strength and oust the Congress-led government in the coming elections.

UNI