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| Azad rath rolls into Bhim’s bastion | | | Early Times Reporter
Udhampur | June 22
ET EXCLUSIVE
If the elaborate decoration of waysides, a clamoring cavalcade leading to a huge gathering is any guide to go by, the Congress has an indomitable wave in the newly become heartland of Panthers which they clinched from the BJP.
After slipping out of the hands of Congress, the Udhampur proper constituency and its adjoining areas have become a bastion of BJP till 2002 when Panthers Party made significant inroads. Out of its total four assembly seats, the Panthers Party has three from Udhampur district including the one Udhampur proper constituency.
With election season having already begun, the Panthers Party still considers Udhampur as its bastion. However, today’s Congress rally attended by the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and PCC chief Saifuddin Soz indicated the wave otherwise. It will have to be seen whether this overwhelming response can actually translate into vote or not but today’s rally was a trendsetter.
On his arrival in Udhampur, the Chief Minister was accorded unprecedented reception. A sea of humanity seemed to have turned up to greet Azad who arrived here along with Union Minister for Water Resources and President, JKPCC, Prof .Saif-ud-Din Soz and MP Choudhary Lal Singh. They were taken from Slathia Chowk to the Mini Stadium, the venue of the public meeting, on a profusely decorated motorized Rath in a colourful procession joined by thousands of people.
The rally was attended among others by MP Choudhary Lal Singh, MoS Revenue Ajaz Ahmed Khan and other senior party leaders.
Critics said that the rally had people from three districts –Udhampur, Reasi and Kathua. This may be true, but the way Congress kicked off its campaign clearly enthused confidence among its cadres.
Addressing the rally, the Chief Minister asserted that the development scenario in Jammu & Kashmir has been revolutionized during the past three years. He said that equitable progress of all the three regions of the State and providing basic amenities of life to the people even in the remotest areas have been the hallmark of the present government.
Azad said that major thrust was laid to expand and upgrade the civic amenities in the rural and far flung areas by launching a number of projects in health, education, roads, power and drinking water sectors and up-gradation of the existing facilities. He said added attention was given to the development of the areas that had remained out of focus so far. He in next four years every village would be connected by road and having water, power and health facilities.
Azad said that in order to open up avenues for employees belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories, the government has raised their promotion quota from 4 to 8 per cent and 5 to 10 per cent, respectively, thereby fulfilling their long pending demand. He said that the hilly districts of Udhampur, Doda and Kupwara had only 5 to 11 per cent road connectivity which was the main cause of backwardness of these districts. Now the State Government under centrally sponsored schemes has launched a number of road projects across the State. For district Udhampur alone, 47 road projects worth Rs.161 crores have been sanctioned which would be completed in next two years.
Addressing the public meeting, Union Minister for Water Resources and President, JKPCC, Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz said that Congress was a people-friendly party solely devoted to mitigate the sufferings of the people irrespective of caste, creed, colour, religion or region. He lauded tireless efforts of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in massive infrastructure development across the State and strengthening the Congress party at the grass roots level. He hoped that the Congress with the cooperation of the people of the State would get a thumping majority in the ensuing assembly elections.
Prof. Soz said that on the persistent demand of MP, Ch. Lal Singh and public of Kathua, a power generation project of 300 MW capacity at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore has been sanctioned for district Kathua on river Ujh which, after completion, would not only supply power but also create additional irrigation facilities for 70,000 acres of land. He said 90 percent funding for the power project would be made by the centre and 10 percent by the State. He said that he had already provided Rs 7 crore for development of Devika rivulet in Udhampur town. |
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