 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Sept 20: Rattan Lal Gupta Senior leader and Provincial President JKNC, Jammu today launched a scathing attack on the Centre and the UT administration for their step-motherly treatment towards Jammu & Kashmir. He said the discrimination with Jammu region especially has crossed all limits and the people are suffering badly due to deliberate neglect.
While Mr Gupta visited Bali Nalla, Bali Village (Udhampur) , the sight of landslide of NH-44 said that the worst example of this bias is National Highway-44, which is the lifeline of J&K. Despite being the only major road connecting Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country, it remains in a pathetic condition- full of potholes, damaged bridges, landslide- prone stretches, and incomplete tunnels. Thousands of crores have already been spent, but there is no accountability, no quality work, and no completion in sight. The daily suffering of commuters, traders, students, and patients travelling on this highway exposes the utter failure of the government.
He further questioned why the Centre is wasting huge public money on unnecessary projects like the Amritsar-Jammu Express Road, when the existing 8- lane Amritsar-Jammu road already serves the purpose, while NH-44 is left to collapse. This clearly shows that Jammu's genuine needs are being ignored and funds are being diverted only to showcase projects for political mileage.
Gupta emphasized that this discrimination with Jammu & Kashmir will no longer be tolerated. He demanded immediate accountability of the agencies involved in NH-44 works, strict action against corrupt contractors who used substandard material and a clear timebound completion.
Gupta said that unless Statehood is restored to Jammu and Kashmir and a democratically elected government led by Omar Abdullah be allowed to act freely in J&K the voices of Jammu and Kashmir will continue to be suppressed and people will remain victims of step-motherly treatment.
Among others who visited included: Pardeep Bali, Arif Mir Provincial Secretaries Jammu, Rakesh Singh Raka Vice President Central Zone, Sunil Verma District President Udhampur Urban, Abid Magrey District President Ramban, Akash Verma Additional Spokesperson Jammu, Manmohan Verma and others. |
