Continuing the campaigning spree in his native area of Chenab Valley, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and former Chief minister of J&K Ghulam Nabi Azad Tuesday said that people of this region hold the key to power in J&K and hoped that they will remain steadfast and united in nipping the conspiracies being hatched by outsiders to pide them.Urging the people of Chenab Valley to vote wisely and decisively in order to sustain the momentum to the development process as also maintain their grip on the levers of power in J&K, Azad asserted that a united and forceful voice that will rise from this region will earn them respect and dignity in the politico-governance structure of the State.“I am sure people of Chenab Valley will display desired unity and strength to march on the journey of politico-economic empowerment and progress,” Azad said in a statement to KNS.
While addressing a series of public meetings in his native area of Bhalesssa at Bathri, Chilli, Gali-Batoli and Kahra today to campaign in favour of Mohammad Sharief Niaz and G M Saroori, who are contesting from Bhaderwah and Inderwal respectively on the mandate of Congress, he drew attention of the people towards the conspiracies being hatched by vested interests to stall the process of development in Chenab Valley by piding them.“At this critical juncture it is incumbent upon the people exercise their vote with sagacity and maturity in order to maintain their relevance and status on the political landscape of the State,” he said.
Urging the people of Chenab Valley to vote in favour of Congress in huge numbers, Azad said that it is the party alone which has allowed an opportunity to the people of this backward and remote region to carve out space for themselves in the democratic order of the State.
He said that Congress has given a ‘sense of identity’ to the people of Chenab Valley and this is duly acknowledged by the visionary and farsighted people of this region, adding that he is confident that they will not squander the advantage they have gained in the politico-economic landscape of the State.
Underlining the need to empower the Chenab Valley and further devolve the powers to bring the process of governance and development further closer to the people, Azad said that tough terrain and remoteness of this region calls for the setting up of ‘new and creative governance structure’ which can remove the deficit of development this region has suffered before 2002.“While we have created new districts and units in Chenab Valley for the comfort and convenience of people, in the next tenure my agenda will be creation of a new and creative governance structure matching the developmental needs of the region,” the Congress leade rsaid.“I promise empowerment and development to the people of Chenab Valley, if they repose trust and confidence in the Congress Party”, he added.
Reminding the people about the efforts made by Congress since 2002 to initiate the process of development and progress and assign a ‘sense of identity’ to Chenab valley, Azad said that various political parties for sixty years used this region as a vote bank and never thought of initiating developmental activities in this remote and hilly region.
Highlighting the pitfalls of disunity and pision as is being attempted by some political parties, the former CM said that new exploitative system is waiting at the doorsteps of the people of Chenab Valley and again their interests will become subservient to vote bank politics, if the people donot exercise their democratic rights with abundant caution and wisdom.He said that Chenab Valleyhas produced stalwarts and luminaries in various spheres of life, and the people there have enough foresight to see through the motives of the pisive and disruptive forces for ensuring non-stop journey of this remote and mountainous region on the path of progress and prosperity.
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, 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,” he said.Urging the people to vote heavily in favour of Congress, he 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 the entire State witnessed unprecedented development during this period, remote, hilly and backward areas like Chenab Valley also came to be given equal thrust and attention, adding that if people wish to revive that era of progress and development, they must come forth to give a decisive mandate to the Congress Party.
“I assure to bring back the glorious era of 2006-2008, if people give decisive mandate to Congress Party,” the Congress leader said.Azad said that it is Congress which brought an end to the ‘siyasat’ of reading lengthy ‘sipasnamas’ for projection of demands to be fulfilled never, and made people feel the fruits of development in true sense.He said that if voted to power, Chenab Valley will be converted into “model region” with excellent roads, power projects, attractive tourist infrastructure, health facilities, educational institutions, employment opportunities, and above all inter-community faith and harmony which unfortunately has come under threat of late.
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 AzadAsking the people to beware of the pisive forces, he said that some political parties flaunt the bait of ‘vikas’ and development to mislead the people about their pisive agenda. He wondered how development and progress will take place in an atmosphere of hatred and polarization as harmony and peace are pre-requisites for carrying out holistic and inclusive development sans any discrimination.The former CM 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.
Others who spoke on the occasion are Mohammad Sharief Niaz, Sitting MLA Bhaderwah, G M Saroori, Sitting MLA Inderwal, Mohammad Aslam Goni, former Advocate General & Senior Congress leader. Comrade Javed Zargar, Ch Ali Mohammad, Ch Latief Bania, Ghulam Haider Company, Munner Ahmad Sheikh, Musarrat Hussain, Mushtaq Ahmad Malik, Sarpanches Javed Zargar, Bashir Ahmad Serwal, Abdul Latief Wani, Haji Ghulam Mohammad, Ghulam Hussaain, Ch Farooq were present.