Assures Governance Based on Efficiency, Transparency Equity
Srinagar: Continuing with his tour of Chenab Valley, Ghulam Nabi Azad today held a series of public meetings at Thathri, Kahara, Bhatyas and Gundoh area of District Doda for expressing gratitude to the people for voting in his favour in a big way in the recently held Parliamentary election.
Azad was given rousing welcome by the people at all the places and an unexpected wave of enthusiasm in the people was seen to greet and meet the popular leader. According to a statement issued addressing the people, Azad said that in the recent elections divisive political forces have succeeded in swaying the minds of people, particularly youngsters, by polarizing the society on religious linesand that these experiments may help one to earn a few electoral victories but the damage to the social harmony can be too deep and lasting. Maintaining that J&K is known for its composite cultural heritage and exemplary religious harmony, Azad said that due to its inner resilience, our society has never yielded to the extremist ideology and that it has always bounced back after every aberration.
Azad said that he will never endorse the politics of opportunism and division adding that Congress Party has always stood for the promotion of the cherished values of peace, harmony and mutual brotherhood in the society and this agenda of integrating and harmonizing the society will be pursued consistently.“Congress party has always been secular in its policy towards people. Unlike BJP, it doesn’t believe in dividing people on religious lines. Our party stresses only on developmental issues which have greater importance for people,” he said.
Criticizing the recent statements of NDA Government at the Centre asking the people to be ready for hard economic decisions, Azad said that the same BJP, prior to elections used to allure people by its tall claims of bringing down inflation overnight, and soon after coming to power, gave first dose of misery to the people of country by effecting a hike in the prices of petrol and diesel, adding that this will have cascading effect on prices of all items.
He asked why the BJP Government at Centre hiked petrol and diesel prices within a fortnight when its entire leadership was “tong and hammers” before the election claiming to reduce the inflation in the market. “Prices of food items have started getting out of control and as per the newspaper reports prices of onions alone are about to reach hundred rupees a kilogram in the coming days. Is this what BJP used to promise the people of country? Azad asked.
Azad said that we want to know about the “magical policies” and dreams which BJP and its leadership was busy selling to the people before the elections. He assured thepeople that as Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, issues concerning common man will be raised vociferously on the floor of the House to hold the Government accountable for its misdoings.
Azad said United Progressive Alliance (UPA) during its ten years rule, strictly focused to build infrastructure in every nook and corner of the country and provide liberal financial support to the States. Massive funding was made available to the States for road connectivity and rural electrification under CRF, PMGSY and RGGVY schemes and their impact on the ground has been quite heartening. J&K State has also been extended liberal financial support for power projects, roads, hospitals, schools, colleges, etc under UPA Government. Azad said that after his entry into State politics, he could observe the “developmental deficit” prevailing in the State and that he worked tirelessly to build infrastructure in all regions and sub-regions of the State without any bias or prejudice adding that interests of all the sections of the State were kept in consideration.
As Union Health minister, Azad said that he sanctioned five medical colleges for the State so that young aspiring medicos would be trained within the State only to economize their training and degree costs adding that he expects State Government to soon commence the execution of these precious projects in a fast track mode.
Describing Chenab Valley as treasure trove of natural resources and quality human resource, Azad stated the he endeavoured in his very brief spell of two and a half years as Chief Minister put this region on the track of development and progress.
Azad said that though the neglect of decades could not be compensated in a short span of two and half years, yet I draw satisfaction from the fact that a beginning was made, adding that a process of creating basic infrastructure like power projects, roads, hospitals, schools, colleges, Tourism Development Authorities, etc was taken up vigorously and the results are discernible and encouraging. Azad assured the people that the BJP will not survive for more time and will soon start tottering under its own self-contradictions, since its agenda for election campaign was based on propaganda and false claims.
He urged the people to strengthen the vote base of Congress Party by ensuring the victory of Congress MLA’s to take the State on the path of progress, prosperity and harmony. “I need all 8 seats from Chenab Valley and I am sure we will form the government in state. If we come to power I promise you all, we will serve the people in the best possible manner and unfold a structure of governance, based on efficiency, transparency and equity” he said while asking people to gear up for the Assembly elections which are likely to be held in November this year. Later, Azad also inspected the ongoing work of 100 bedded hospitalbeing funded under NRHM at Gundoh and hailed the efforts of Housing Board for the speedy execution of the work. He was accompanied by Mohammad Sharief Niaz MLA Bhaderwah, G M Saroori, MLA Inderwal and Naresh Gupta, MLC.