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| Azad stages comeback | | Face to face with public at Akhnoor, boasts of bringing Congress back to power | |
Early Times Reporter
Jammu | July 13
• Two parties played dirty communal politics
• Money from Pak, Saudi used in protests
• Development of past 2 ½ years unmatchable
• People should judge politicians by performance
• Congress credited with making true sacrifices
A week of oblivion after the loss of his government, the former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today staged a comeback with a new energy and focus on the forthcoming assembly elections.
Crediting his party for making supreme sacrifices for the public good, the former Chief Minister asked the people to vote for Congress. This was perhaps first public appeal of Azad seeking votes as till July 7 –as long as he was Chief Minister –he never asked for votes.
The occasion was a thickly attended public meeting at Akhnoor where the senior Congress leader Azad, who had remained away from state after fall of government last Monday, sought to explain what all happened over most of past one month. He also called upon the party leaders and workers to reach out to the people and explain them the inside story of Amarnath Shrine land controversy.
Without naming any Azad blamed the Peoples Democratic Party and the Bhartya Janta Party for communalizing the situation with an eye on the vote bank. He also lashed out at the separatists for igniting fire of regional and religious polarization. "Money pumped in from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was used against us", said Azad.
Azad said that Congress is the only party whose leaders have sacrificed their lives for the cause of people and the country. He said that some vested elements and political parties try to divide the people on the basis of religion and region with an eye on votes. He appealed the people to beware of such anti-people forces.
In an apparent reference to the Peoples Democratic Party, Azad said that some political parties were jealous of glorious achievements of his two and a half years' achievements that gave a new meaning to development of the state. He stressed the need for creating awareness among the masses about this fact. He said that his government had registered unprecedented development in every sector that surpassed the last 60 years' achievements.
Highlighting the achievements of his government, Mr. Azad said that tremendous development has been made in all sectors. He said thousands of schools were opened and upgraded, 40 new degree colleges and several university campuses set up remotest areas connected with roads, 22 lakh kanals of state land given to farmers free of cost under Roshni scheme. He said honourarium of nambardars and chowkidars was increased manifold while remuneration of SPOs enhanced from Rs. 1500 to Rs.3000 besides raising widow and old age pension. He said creation of 8 new districts, 3 sub-divisions and 12 tehsils has facilitated fast track development of all areas of the state.
Azad also dwelt on several landmark projects completed by his government within a shortest possible time frame including legislature complex in Srinagar. He said to deal with water scarcity thousands of tube wells and hand pumps were commissioned, besides launching various lift irrigation schemes in the state. He said that scores of development projects in health, power and other critical sectors were completed on fast track basis during the last about three years.
Referring to construction of Mughal road, which PDP often describes as its dream project, Azad said that 66 kilometer road has been completed and remaining portion would be completed by August this year. To improve power scenario in J&K, he said that Baglihar hydel power project is at the final stage of completion and would be commissioned shortly. To facilitate Shri Amarnath Yatries, he said that his government constructed Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu at a cost of Rs. 5 crore.
Member Parliament Madan Lal Sharma and several Congress legislators, former legislators and party leaders also addressed the gathering. Prominent among those present on the occasion were Deputy Chairman Legislative Council Mr. Arvinder Singh, MLCs, Mr. Rajinder Singh Chib and Mr. Amrit Malhotra, former legislators Mr. Sham Lal Sharma, Mr. Raman Bhalla and Mrs. Suman Lata Bhagat, Mr. Janal Raj Gupta, Congress Spokesman Mr. Ravinder Sharma and other senior leaders of Congress leaders. |
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