Member of Parliament from Srinagar segment, Tariq Hamid Karra said that dealing with the problem of Jammu and Kashmir was the biggest challenge before the BJP led NDA government headed by Narendra Modi.Addressing an impressive public meeting at Banihal, Karra said that a holistic approach should be adopted by the new government at the Centre to address the political and economic dimensions of the Kashmir issue.Retreating resolve of the PDP to address grievances of the people, he said, “PDP understands and values the aspirations and emotions of its people and it has not gone to the Lok Sabha to seek power. Our mandate is to seek consensus on the Kashmir issue and issues of Kashmir and for that we have been successful till now to raise our voice both in an outside the Parliament”.
Pointing towards problems of the residents of Chenab Valley, Karra said that improving connectivity, expanding economic activity and creating job avenues were the areas of immediate concern.
“The Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag road needs to be made fully functional by constructing a tunnel at Sinthan Top to ensure all-weather connectivity with Kashmir”, he said. “The Chenab Valley region is bestowed with immense water resources and the people of this area should draw the benefits from the power projects being constructed here. They should not only get power at subsidized rates but jobs as well”, he said and demanded that locals of this region should be provided technical jobs in the projects.Emphasizing on maintaining ecological balance in this mountainous region, he said, “While constructing power projects care should be taken not to destroy the ecological balance of the Chenab Valley region, as the same could lead to massive devastation in the event of natural calamities”.
The Lok Sabha member also compliment the people of Chenab Valley region for reaching out to their brethren in flood-affected areas in the hour of needLaunching a scathing on present regime headed by Omar Abdullah, he said, “NC-Cong coalition Government has not only brought the developmental process to a grinding halt but has frittered away the gains made during PDP-Cong coalition government between 2002 and 2008”.“People are counting days to see the end of the National Conference-Congress government in the state which has got them nothing but miseries and pain over the years”, Mr Karra said.
Calling upon people to strengthen PDP, he said, “PDP since its inception has always stood by the side of people without compromising on its policies and agenda unlike National Conference. People have always been our priority and we will continue to fight for their rights no matter what the circumstance will be”.Former Minister Peer Mohammad Hussain, PDP candidate for Banihal assembly segment, B A Runayal, Abdul Ahad Wani, Arshad Malik, Mohammad Farooq Mir, advocate B A Runayal, Rayaz Ahmed Sheikh, Pir Sahdullah, Abdul Rashid Katoch, Mahajabin, Advocate Nazir, Hamid ullah Wani, Arif, Nayeem and others also spoke on the occasion.