Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Apr, 22
Alleging deep rooted conspiracy in inexplicably delaying the construction of Basantgarh-Khaned road sanctioned under central flagship programme in 2009, scores of Panther activists led by Mr. Harsh Dev Singh Chairman JKNPP and other leaders lodged a massive protest outside the office of Divisional Commissioner in Jammu today. The infuriated protesters while raising anti-BJP slogans exhorted the Div Com to take due cognizance of the deliberate delay shown by the concerned officers towards the issues of remote areas and Muslim dominated areas in particular. They later submitted a memorandum to Divisional Commissioner Jammu seeking immediate construction of the said road failing which, they said, 15000 people would come on roads.
Addressing the media, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh said that despite the work having been tendered in 2009 and the full funding having been released by the GOI, the work could not be completed due to vested interests of biased and prejudiced politicians. He regretted that PMGSY authorities executing the work had deflected the blame to Forest Deptt for failure to give clearance and the latter was blaming the former for giving incomplete details.
And in the said blame game, the people of the remotest belt of tehsil Basantgarh were made to suffer for no fault of theirs and deprived of the benefits of a project envisaged for them under a central scheme. For how long shall the people have to suffer for the vested interests of corrupt politicians, questioned Harsh appealing the Chief Secretary to dispose of the Forest clearance case of the said road on priority in view brewing public resentment in the area against the extremely abhor able conduct of concerned authorities.
Strongly condemning the delay of 10 years in construction of Basantgarh-Khaned road, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh said that the political motives of the vested interests had deprived the affected remote area people of their right to connectivity. He lamented that despite Rs.10.00 crores approx. having been sanctioned for the construction of the said road in 2010, with additional Rs.3.90 crore for its black topping sanctioned in 2012, the huge amount had remained un-expended due to unwholesome corrupt motives of the authorities.
Holding the BJP squarely responsible for the lapse, Mr. Basharat Ali Gen Secy said that Saffron Party deliberately denied the rural connectivity to the people of villages Basantgarh, Mang, Punara, Sang, Arthal and Khaned because the said belt comprised a Muslim dominated population of around 15000 souls. He further rued that they had been subjected to huge inconvenience and hardships on communal lines, therefore, the BJP leaders and the said officers needed to be made accountable and answerable under law and the constitution.
Mohd Sharif, a Senior NPP leader urged upon the SAC and SVC to take cognizance of the culpable conduct of the said authorities besides their omissions and commissions and to initiate appropriate proceedings against them. He cautioned that in case the construction of the said road was not started immediately, thousands of people from the native villages would march to Jammu to launch indefinite protests till their genuine demand was conceded by the authorities.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Rajesh Padgotra, Capt. Anil Gaur, Khajoor Singh, Rampaul Sharma ,Rajiv Mahajan, Surinder Chauhan, Rohit Sharma, Kewal Krishan Sharma, Sukh Dev, Rakesh Verma, Rahi Verma besides others.
