Leader of Opposition (Rajya Sabha) and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today came down heavily on political parties, which are trivializing the entire religious issue in the name of Prime Minister in general and Chief Minister in particular.Addressing a series of public rallies in Banihal, Bhattan, Reasi and Maan Talai areas in favour of party candidates, Vikar Rasool, Ashok Dogra, Jugal Kishore Sharma and Krishan Chander Bhagat, Azad lashed out at those political parties and said that, “Some political parties are propagating that Chief Minister should be Hindu and some Kashmir valley based political parties are trying to woo the people that Chief Minister should be from Kashmir. But, I as Indian am not bothered about any Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Christian or of any other caste as Chief Minister. We are not bothered about the religious identity of Chief Minister. What state need is a secular leader whose heart beats for the poor and downtrodden people irrespective of their castes and religion.”
While appealing the people to vote in favour of Congress candidates, former Chief Minister, pointed out that, “We need a chief minister with a developmental orientation having a capacity of building roads, schools, hospitals, colleges, universities, government buildings, new avenues of employment for educated unemployed youths of Jammu and Kashmir. The one who can maintain law and order. And above all, he or she should have the capacity and capability to deal with post flood situation, which had caused devastation and washed off lakhs of houses and agriculture land besides, school, and hospital buildings and also bridges and roads across the state.”Azad pointed out that “mere religious sentiments and polarization of votes in the name of religions and regions is not going to help the state to make a comeback on the path of development and prosperity.”
He highlighted that Congress is contesting Assembly elections with a vision and specific agenda to serve the people of all the three regions of the state. “I am aware of the problems being faced by the inhabitants of this region so I have prepared a blue-print for the growth and betterment of the state,” Azad said and reminded the gathering, “As Chief Minister of State, I had formulated a comprehensive plan to create infrastructure in this mountainous region and in a short span of just two and half years and I had proved how to develop this region.”Azad, who during his tenure had accelerate developmental activities, said that being the most backward region this belt deserve special attention and comprehensive programmes and policies for development and growth.
While listing the developmental works initiated and completed under the dynamic leadership of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party vice president Rahul Gandhi during UPA-1 and UPA-II, Azad pointed out that, “Revolutions never take place in a day, but Congress has always tried utmost best to give sigh of relief to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and other states. Creation of new administrative units, opening of hospitals, health centers, presence of AASHA workers, Aanganwari centres in each village of the state, lakhs of developmental work under NRHM reveals our commitment and dedication towards the rural populace”.
Seeking mandate of the people to accelerate developmental activities in remotest and far-flung areas, Azad today said that Congress was committed to counter and defeat pisive forces tooth and nail and would always work for development of the country and countrymen irrespective of any caste, colour or religion.Azad further reminded the people about various developmental projects which were started during his tenure as Chief Minister for the development of this region. “Many projects are still incomplete”, he said and sought support of the people to finish that incomplete projects to improve their socio-economic conditions.Maintaining that Congress is contesting elections on development plank, Azad said that during its regime Congress had proved how to deliver good governance to the people. He further called upon the people to beware of the policies being formulated by the pisive forces and urged them to strengthen the hands of secular Congress party, which ensures development and integrity of nation.