Shadow Correspondent
Udhampur,Mar, 02
Asserting that the people’s faith in regional parties seemed to have strengthened across the country, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh Chairman JKNPP and former Minister said people were increasingly reposing their confidence in their local parties in the elections which alone could address the local sentiment and other issues in the right perspective. He was addressing a series of public meetings at Pathi, Meer, Pancheri, Kultyar, Latyar, Lander, Karcha, Galiote segments of Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency today.
Addressing the gatherings, Mr. Singh said that a regional party alone could fulfill the hopes and aspirations of their deprived and neglected region facing extreme bias and prejudicial treatment at the hands of state as well as central governments. “BJP and Congress are not the solutions to your woes. Since their leadership is remote controlled from New Delhi who have their own priorities, they betrayed us each time they ascended the seat of power”, said Singh. While Congress had interests in Kashmir, the BJP followed the policy of appeasement to surrender before the valley centric leaders for the loaves of power. In doing so, the BJP not only indicated its impuissance and servile disposition but also admitted its bankruptcy and lack of leadership,observed Singh.
On local issues, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh demanded carving of a new Assembly constituency for Lander-Pancheri- Bhomag belt as these compact areas fell in three Assembly constituencies viz-a-viz Reasi, Udhampur and Chenani. He said that the deprived belt remained neglected, ignored and abandoned by the successive politicians. “All of them assured and reassured the people time and again of bestowing constituency status to the belt but failed to fulfill the long pending demand of the people. It was only Panthers party which has been agitating for the delimitation of the constituencies and insisted for a new constituency for the said belt on various forums”, Harsh divulged. He rued that the road network connecting the far flung villages of district Udhampur were lying in a dilapidated condition adding to the woes of the people. “The local ex-MP and the local ex-MLA are responsible for the pathetic condition of the roads. They simply enjoyed power and least bothered about the welfare of the people who had given heavy mandate to the incumbents in the previous elections. It was due to the shabby condition of the roads, the officers are reluctant to visit the villages which have left the people at the mercy of God.
Stating there has been no virtual impact of development on the ground, Mr. Singh added that several villages in the district have been deprived of civic amenities to face the brunt of shortage of ration, power and water. Some of the remote hamlets have no access to transportation, education and health care facilities. They are just living in a primitive world in Saffron era”, anguished Harsh maintained. Further lampooning that all the National schemes looked good on papers, he said they had miserably failed to benefit a common man at the bottom level. He said the rural youth had been facing the menace of unemployment with no wages paid to the workers for several months under MGNREGA scheme.
“Vote for Panthers. Vote for development. We will raise your voice in the Parliament and live up to your expectations. You will surely sense the change”, Harsh appealed to the people.
