Leader of Opposition (LoP) in RajyaSabha and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that “no political party is ready to shake hand with BJP in government formation here in Jammu and Kashmir.”Without pinpointing any national BJP leader, MrGhulamNabi Azad said that “BJP was hoping against hopes. BJP was expecting low polling, which might have given it some kind of benefit in one or two Assembly segments. But heavy turnout has flattened their moves. The dream of Mission 44+ is a day dreaming by its leaders. Now after observing heavy polling especially in fourth phase and getting clear cut signals from other political parties that they will not hold any kind of alliance with BJP, its leadership is now coming out with statement that it will not go for alliance. Rather the reality is other way round. Such statements are indications of frustration.”
“Only Congress is the party, which can come up to the expectations of the people of all the three regions of the state. Congress has its visibility and physical presence in all the three regions and eight sub-regions of the state. It is the only party which can carry all sections of society equally on board. Whereas BJP has just its presence in one sub-region of the state,” Azad said, according to the statement issued to Kashmir News ServiceAddressing series of public rallies in Thannamandi (Rajouri), Peeri (Darhal), Mougla, Chingus (Kalakote), Bhalassan Da Khoo, Jatwal (Hiranagar) and Jammu Cantonnment, in favour of party candidates Shabir Khan, Iqbal Malik, Ashok Sharma, GirdhariLalChalotra and Mr Raman Bhalla, MrGhulamNabi Azad highlighted that it was during his small tenure of two and half years as chief minister, that development accelerated in hilly, remote and backward belts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Quoting number of examples, MrGhulamNabi Azad reminded the people of PirPanjal belt that “when he took over as chief minister of the state, it was just single lane project of Mughal Road costing just 250 crores. There was no clearance from Enviornment and Forest departments. I again passed instructions for re-survey of the ambitious Mughal Road and within short time period ensured NOCs from concerned department viz-a-viz brought liberal funding of Rs 650 crore from the then Congress led UPA government at centre.” “Not just this,” highlighted MrGhulamNabi Azad and further detailed, “It was double shift and triple shift that made a dream come true with timely completion of double road work of the said road.”
Taking a dig and NC and PDP for befooling the innocent people of the state and trying get credit even on those projects that were initiated and completed in his tenure as chief minister, Congress stalwart MrGhulamNabi Azad sought to know from those political parties, “Who ensure work culture in the state? Who waged a war against corruption? Who sent guilty police officers responsible for innocent killing behind bars? Have they got enough guts to speak truth before the people? It was only and only Congress party’s policies which delivered new era of peace, development and prosperity in the state.”
Lambasting the rival political parties for indulging in misinformation campaigning against Congress party, MrGhulamNabi Azad asserted that it is Congress party which really understands and share the suffering of the people living in mountainous belts and remote areas. “Decision of giving five Medical Colleges to Jammu and Kashmir and especially one in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch is pointer to the fact Congress has always giving priority to poor and downtrodden. “Now, people will not just get advance treatment at their door steps but their children will also avail opportunity in their hometown to learn medical education and will serve the people after becoming doctors,” highlighted MrGhulamNabi Azad.
Criticizing the political parties for piding the people in the name of caste and religion, Mr Azad urged the gathering not to fall in the trap of such political parties and caste vote to Congress candidates so that the developmental activities which were initiated by Congress continue and get completed timely. He said that Tourism Development Authority for Rajouri and Poonch is a landmark decision of Congress which will boost the local economy and will help the people in getting employment. The construction of Degree Colleges, Hospitals, Anganwaricentres are other some of the examples of Congress’ effort for providing basic facilities to the people.
Highlighting that the double shift and triple shift works, work culture and good governance, which raised new hope of rays among the people of the state during his small tenure as chief minister, Mr.GhulamNabi Azad shared with the people that “As Chief Minister wherever and whichever town I visited throughout the state, I ensured first to have a look on ongoing construction works be it Schools, Colleges, Hospitals etc. I used to personally monitor the status of works. It was no just once or twice but numerous times I visited the sites even on remote and hilly belts. But unfortunately in past six years, chief minister Omar Abdullah did not even visit a single area to check whether the work in progress would be completed well in time or not.”