Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Thursday exhorted the party cadre to gear up for big democratic exercise at grass root level, saying massive participation is imperative in the ensuing elections to Urban Local Bodies to seek involvement of people in decision making at local levels.“National Conference believes in people being the real fountain head of power and success of the party in the upcoming elections will go a long way in realizing this cherished agenda”, Dr Abdullah said while addressing workers at Udhampur, Talwada, Pouni Bharak.He hoped that young people and women will come forward in a big way and take upon themselves the responsibility of serving the people in their respective areas as per vision and commitment of National Conference. He said the basic level democratic institutions can prove as useful engines of change, if the elected representatives work with a sense of devotion and missionary zeal.
“National Conference has a proven record in this regard”, he said while referring to enviable development undertaken in the three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, whenever it was bestowed with the responsibility to govern.Accompanied by the Provincial President Devender Singh Rana, the NC President hoped that the people will identify public spirited representatives who will work with a sense of urgency and commitment to change the landscape of urban and semi urban areas. “Civic transformation assumes immense significance, especially in the wake of population growth and ever growing congestion”, he added.Dr Abdullah hoped that the people will make a right decision in the ensuing elections and elect honest and well meaning representatives, who can end the era of despondency and generate new hope.Without naming PDP and BJP, the former Union Minister regretted over development having been relegated into backburner during past one year and said the state-craft is not to hoodwink public opinion and incite passions but it is about deliverance. He said the promises made by the myopic political parties proved to be hoax, as a result of which the people are rightly feeling deceived. He said the previous regime failed to gauge public pulse and wored at cross purposes, as a consequence of which the state and the people suffered adversely.
Earlier, the NC President visited the residence of Cap Tushar Mahajan, who was martyred in an encounter at Pampore and expressed condolence to the bereaved family. He said he will appeal to the Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi for naming Udhampur Railway Station after Cap Tushar Mahajan, which will be a tribute to him.Interacting with reporters, he answered a volley of questions on the ongoing political stalemate over the government formation, repealing of Armed Forces Special Power Act and the JNU incidents.Squarely blaming PDP and BJP for plunging Jammu and Kashmir into political uncertainty, Dr Abdullah said that National Conference has no role as it lacks numbers in the Legislative Assembly.To a question, he said the PDP-BJP duo will have to take a call on forming the government.During his tour to various areas, Provincial Vice President Choudhry Haroon, District President Reasi Jagjeevan Lal besides Choudhry Sharief, Cap Ram Lal, Ranjit Singh and others accompanied Dr Abdullah. (KNS)