Raina addressing a massive public gather in Jammu

Roop Krishen Raina , an independent candidate , from Anantnag Assembly constituency is addressing a massive public gathering tomorrow at Invitation banquet hall, Roop Nagar, Jammu ,on the event of the conclusion of his Election campaining for December 17 polls.

Earlier RK Raina filled his nomination papers at Anantnag with his Election symbol cricket bat.

Mr. Raina also met thousands of his supporters at Anantnag during his 4 day long visit to Kashmir.

Mr. Raina was confident of his victory in Assembly polls after his meeting with supporters at Anantnag.

News paper cuttings

Raina challenges Mufti, Beig
Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 27: Independent candidate from Anantnag Assembly segment Roop Krishan Raina today challenged the former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and former Minister, Dr Mehboob Beig to debate with him on their agenda and policies.
Mr Raina before leaving for Kashmir Valley to file up his nomination papers was addressing a meeting of his supporters here today.
"I challenge these politicians to face me in the Assembly elections as I pledge to free the people of the Valley from those persons who policies are anti people and who have been raking up trivial issues rather than focusing on development", Mr Raina said.
He said by not giving a single mandate to any Kashmiri Pandit, PDP and NC have shown their real intentions. Their talking about the return of Kashmiri Pandits and normalcy in their vision statements is just an eyewash. He promised to fight for the better life of Kashmiri migrants and for their status as internally displaced people.
Mr Raina further promised to work for the protection of temples and shrines in the Valley.

Election Manifesto 2008

AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR

The forthcoming Assembly Elections in Jammu and Kashmir empower the people of this state to make way for peace, progress, prosperity and return to harmony, development for a glorious future.
They provide an opportunity to the people to reject the divisive policy adopted by wily politicians of our state and opt for the change that leads to the path of infinite glory.

Our state seems divided and our clothes still stained from the blood splashed in the past few decades. I stand in front of you, not propagating any virtue but giving you a voice and hands that will always work for a better tomorrow.

Therefore, I appeal to the people of this state, not to be blindly driven by this parchment or any other parchments; speeches; promises, but believe in my ability and help me fight for you on the streets and in the courtroom, with the old and the young, with an elite and the commonest of all.

My appeal is directed to the common man, who has the power of bringing change, a change that would shun anything leading to violence, rebellion, hatred and ill will.

I am the son of a teacher who taught the Muslim, the Pandit and the Sikh alike. I, my family and my community had to bear the axe of terrorism and communal hatred and have been living as refugees in our own country for the past 20 yrs. Our fore fathers worked hard in maintaining the secular nature of the state and to make an effort for achieving the same is more relevant in the present time of globalization. Therefore I request the people of this state to see behind the veil of those self confessed leaders who only thrive on the communal sentiments, and open their eyes to see the good in humanity.

I choose to run for elections at this point in history because I deeply believe that we need a leader to lead the masses from the front, standing at par and work when nobody is watching him and the reason I give you for choosing me is because I truly believe in a just, peaceful and more democratic Jammu and Kashmir. I also believe that people will help me fulfil my dream, my thoughts and my everlasting desire of transforming my motherland; and let the people witness a golden era.

My Vision:

• I want to see Anantnag as a role model for rest of the state and for the whole country. I want to bring back the legacy of seers and saints diminished in the minds of people due to the gun. I want to make the youth shed all resentment and make them capable of working hard and getting their share of benefits. I will give them not just hope and dreams but means to fulfil their desires.
• I feel a sense of dutifulness towards the Kashmiri Pandit community living in Jammu and other parts of the country. As a Kashmiri Pandit myself, I share the pain of being victimised into oblivion throughout the past ;and the present plight of the community, once given to academic, philosophical and spiritual pursuits, now rootless and without identity. I feel duty bound to the thousands of my brethren suffering in the miserable camps for the want of basic amenities, shelter, medicare and family support; and thousands of Kashmiri Pandit youth getting scattered in search of livelihood. Although I fear that the community is disintegrating beyond redemption and facing total extinction, I hope that my brethren will empower me to fight towards a better life for all the community members especially our children; to fight for a just political, social and economic status and to bring back the glory of our rich heritage and respected ancestors.
• I feel an urgency to undo the wrong done by National Conference, PDP, Congress and other major political players who have used the political platform for personal benefit and done less for the development of the constituencies. In the dearth of any major development and resolution of any issue, they have misled the people through wrong propaganda and policies. I want the people of my constituency and the state to fight with me for fundamental rights like education, health-care, security, employment, liberty of religion, greater democracy and take a dip into the pond of prosperity and peace with boldness, conviction and in full measures.
  
  When Elected I’ll Take Following Steps:

• Infrastructure: I will make sure that my constituency gets the best of infrastructure. I will get people funds for roads, bridges , hospitals ,schools etc; and I am aware that my responsibility will just start by getting money, I will see to it that each penny is utilized properly and there is least mismanagement and corruption. I will also facilitate people by introducing e-governance centres in my constituency and a separate migrant e-governance centres. It will save people from running pillar to post in the government offices for different official works. I also plan to start the beautification and facilitation drive to boost the tourism of my state and Anantnag in particular.
• Improve minority representation and participation: The minorities in the state have special problems which need to be addressed and fought for. These groups often find themselves powerless in raising their demands. I will try my best to fight for the cause of minorities, especially Kashmiri Pandits of my constituency and the state.
• Status Of Women: Women have a special status in our state. They never shy to come out of their houses to work, strike or even agitate on the streets when the need arises, but even they feel sidelined by the representatives of major political parties who make false promises from their ivory towers. I want to voice out their grievances and fight for their empowerment in all fields at par with men.
• Youth: I think the best way to channelize the young of our state is to give them work and the best way to do it is to provide them with skills rather that feed them any job. I will start vocational training institutes and encourage new financial institutions, banks to provide young people with training and money so that they start on their own and improve the economy of the state.
• Kashmiri Pandits: I am a crusader of Justice for Kashmiri Pandits and other migrants. I will make sure that the condition of those still living in miserable conditions at camps be improved by giving them more monetary benefits and fighting for an increase in their political representation. Providing jobs and vocational training to the unemployed youth will be my priority. Also medical and other benefits for the old will be a part of my mission. Restoration of temples and the property of migrants is at top on my list along with safe return of migrants to their motherland. I also promise to work towards vigorous implementation of prime ministers package along with the payment of compensation for properties lost, payment of balance ex-gratia relief and provision of jobs to the educated un-employed youth.
• Education: I will make sure that Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan is implemented genuinely at the grass root level and all govt and private institutes are made to work efficiently. I will also work towards lowering the widening gap between the private and government educational institutes by making the latter better. I also plan to open counselling centres to guide students properly for different educational pursuits.
• Terrorism affected families: I will try to provide adequate measures for the betterment of terrorist affected families by providing their family members preference in education, employment and check the adequacy of the compensation and relief provided to them.
• Confidence Building Measures: I will try to encourage people to actively participate in the governance. I plan to open a grievance cell where people can write their complaints. I also plan to open a website and a blog so that my work and I remain under public domain.
  
  
  VOTE AND SUPPORT
  
  Finally, I will quote these lines of our former president, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam:
  Dream, dream, dream.
  Dream transforms into thoughts. Thoughts result into action.
  
  I want the people of this beautiful state and from my Anantnag constituency to vote for my dream; a dream that wakes up into a beautiful and glorious morning.
  I appeal to one and all to share my vision and work together for the betterment of humanity and not listen to those against elections, democracy and righteousness.
  I want people to shun all kinds of violent activities and channelize their energies by exercising their power to vote and by working towards a free, democratic, secular Jammu and Kashmir.
  I think it is the time people can themselves decide for their good.
  This opportunity of voting fervently in my support will bless me with an opportunity of serving my brethren with devotion and vigour.
  I am thus pledged to the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in every possible way.

RK Raina