Claiming credit for setting out Chenab Valley on the path of progress and development since 2002 after people of Chenab Valley reposed confidence in Congress Party, Azad said that he does not want to say that Chenab Valley has attained highest pinnacles of development during the past ten years, but no one can deny the fact that a solid beginning has been made since 2002 and today it is on the threshold of entering into a new phase of prosperity and progress.“I do not say that everything has been achieved, but I can say with full conviction that it is Congress Party which has demonstrated intentions, will and ability to develop this tough region of the State”, said Azad.Hitting out at the pisive and exploitative forces, Azad said that people are aware how the remote and backward areas were used as vote- banks for almost sixty years by certain parties and it is only Congress Party which made sincere beginning to initiate development activities.Azad was on a campaign trail in higher reaches of three constituencies of Chenab Valley, where he addressed seven public meetings at Kukerwas Saroor and Burdhar Bunjwah.
Urging the people to vote heavily in favour of Congress Party, Azad expressed confidence that he will be able to realize his dream of making Chenab valley a “Model Region” of the State. Unfolding his vision for Chenab Valley, Azad said that he will strive to make it a modern and progressive region of the State if people repose their faith in him and his Party, adding that development became an achievable notion and a realizable goal in J&K during the tenure of Congress Party in the State between 2006-2008.He also said that while all the regions of the State witnessed unprecedented development during this period, remote, hilly and backward areas like Chenab Valley also came to be given equal thrust and attention in order to overcome the “development deficit” of sixty years.
“Today I come across statements of retrogressive, polarizing and pisive forces unsuccessfully trying to negate the good work done by Congress party to develop the remote and backward areas of the State like Chenab Valley and State of J&K in particular”, said Azad adding that people of the remote and far flung areas fully appreciate what has been the role of Congress Party in initiating developmental activities after a neglect of almost six decades.Azad said that exploitative forces are trying hard to pide the people on religious lines by spreading misinformation about the achievements of Congress-led Govt, however, the wise and sagacious people of the State will not allow such forces to succeed as there is a groundswell among the people to revive that era of progress and development which Congress-led Government demonstrated practically in short span of two and a half years.
Castigating the political parties and leaders for using every possible method and mean to pide the people to gain electoral victories, Azad said that Chenab Valley will expose the nefarious designs of such power hungry parties on the day of poll by voting in favour of Congress Party unitedly and zealously.“I would like to pre-inform the people of Chenab Valley that concerted attempts are being made to derail the process of progress and development in this mountainous belt by way of polarization and pision”, said Azad.Urging the people to give decisive mandate to the Congress Party to usher in an era of progress and prosperity, Azad said that Congress Party successfully gave a new paradigm of governance and fast-track development to J&K, which was based on equity and justice to all regions and sections.Azad said that those who are afraid of the popularity of Congress-led regime in J&K actually attempt all sorts of malicious tricks to mislead the people of J&K in order to wean them away from Congress Party, adding that their vain bids to discredit and distort the revolutionary accomplishments and measures of the Congress-led Government in J&K will not curry favour with the wise electorate of J&K State.“In keeping with the urges and aspirations of the people of the State to have credible, effective and clean Government, I am determined to bring back the glorious era of 2006-2008, provided people give decisive mandate to Congress Party”, roared Azad.
Azad said that it is Congress Party which brought an end to the ‘siyasat’ of reading lengthy ‘sipasnamas’ in the remote and far flung areas of the State and established a system of effective, time bound and people-friendly governance model in the State.Azad said that the true essence and attribute of a well meaning and people-friendly political party is how much it can satiate the urges and aspirations of all sections of society and discharge its responsibilities with fairness and equity, adding that it is only the Congress Party which has the credentials to do justice to all sections and regions of the society.Senior J&K Congress leader and sitting MLA Inderwal, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori also spoke on the occasion.Prominent among those Mohd Iqbal Keen, Akhtar Hussain Khurwaey, Shahid Rashid Mattoo, Chowdhary Issaq, Chowdhary Mohd Shafi, Om Prakash Shan, Bashir Ahmed Sheikh, Mohd Sultan Malik, Mohd Iqbal Zarger, Youth Congress members, local Congress leaders and people in large were present on the occasion.