 Early Times Report
RAMGARH, Dec 10: Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) in Jammu, has accused the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha-led Union Territory Administration and the Central Government of failing miserably to fulfill the promises made to border dwellers. As a result, he claimed, they are living in utter misery. He emphasized that the government has betrayed the youth by not raising the Police Battalions as promised and failing to address their unemployment issues.
The senior National Conference leader expressed these concerns while addressing a one-day conference held at Ramgarh in the Samba district today. The meeting was presided over by Saudagar Gupta, District President.
Rattan Lal Gupta criticized the incumbent UT Government for being a proxy of the BJP Government at the centre, continuing to emulate the ‘Jumla’ Government. He pointed out the unfulfilled promise of providing 5 Marla plots to border dwellers, which seems to have vanished into oblivion. He asserted that border dwellers, who constitute a significant line of defense in border areas next to the Border Security Force, deserve topmost priority for basic facilities and welfare. However, he lamented that the bunkers constructed for their use during border shelling are sub-standard and almost defunct, leading to frustration among the border dwellers.
Highlighting further failures of the LG Administration, Gupta noted that health centers in these areas are running without doctors and that ambulances are unavailable for critical patients during emergencies.
Gupta also castigated the Government for creating a false development narrative while ignoring the genuine issues of the people, evident from the deplorable condition of the border areas and the neglect of their inhabitants.
Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Provincial Secretary of JKNC, in his address, encouraged the people of the Ramgarh area to support Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah for the overall development of the area.
Ashok Attri, Vice President of the Central Zone JKNC, who organized the meeting, detailed the hardships faced by border dwellers, including a lack of basic amenities such as doctors in health centers, closed primary schools, non-availability of pensions for senior citizens and widows, and dilapidated infrastructure.
Bimla Luthra, a senior NC leader, addressed the specific miseries faced by women, especially those living in border areas.
Vijay Lochan, Chairman of the SC Cell JKNC, slammed the Administration for depriving border dwellers despite them constituting a significant section of the Union Territory.
Rakesh Singh Raka, Zonal Vice President of JKNC, raised concerns over the government’s neglect in addressing the problems faced by the farming community. He criticized the BJP Government for not fulfilling promises like doubling farmers’ income and providing minimum selling prices for crops.
The meeting was also attended by District Vice President Mittar Pal Singh, Block President Sat Pal, Joginder Kumar, Swarn Singh, youth leader Rahul Attri, Yash Pal, District President of OBC, Pinky Khalsa, Joginder Kour, and other functionaries of District and Block levels. |
