Jammu, May 29: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday offered full support of the Central Government in making Jammu and Kashmir a progressive state and also lauded the Gujjar community’s contribution in fighting militancy in the state.
Sonia, on a day-long visit to Jammu, made it clear in her address after inaugurating a tribal cultural centre built by the Gurjar Desh Charitabe Trust, that her party and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre were ‘committed to the development of Jammu and Kashmir’.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah, union minister for health  Ghulam Nabi Azad, union minister for new and renewable energy  Dr Farooq Abdullah, state congress chief  Saif-ud-Din Soz, AICC general secretary in-charge of party’s JK affairs,  Prithiviraj Chauhan and deputy chief minister Tara Chand were present on the occasion.
“Our UPA government is committed in putting its best foot forward and helping Jammu and Kashmir move on the path of progress. The state should adopt the latest scientific methods and use computers to advance the path of education and progress,” Sonia said.
This was Sonia’s first visit to Jammu after the UPA government began its second tenure a year ago. She, in particular, mentioned the Gujjars, and their contribution in fighting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Gujjars have bravely fought during 1965 and 1971 wars and today also they are fighting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. Their contribution is immense in foiling the designs of militants in the state. Theirs is a saga of bravery and deep commitment towards the nation,” she said.
Talking about her party’s association with the Gujjar community, which forms nearly one fourth of 10 million population of the state, she said: “Our relationship is not new. The relationship between the Congress party and Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir dates back to the days of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.”
Twice in her speech of less than seven minutes, Sonia lauded the contribution of the Gujjar community in preserving peace in the state and also exhorted them to maintain the same spirit to guard the peace and put the state on the path of progress and prosperity.
She said that the Gujjars have been left behind in the field of education and hoped that the GDCT shall come forward to provide quality education including that of science and technology for the youth of the community. She hailed Masood Choudhary for his efforts in constructing the Centre. She also lauded the role of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University in providing educational avenues to the people of the state.
Speaking on the occasion, chief minister Omar Abdullah lauded the efforts of the Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust for its endeavours in empowering the community by setting up the Centre for Culture and Heritage Complex which he hoped will become a centre for preserving and promoting Gujjar culture and ethos. He said the Gujjars are an important part of the state’s composite culture and their contribution in various fields is enviable.
Omar also said that that government has decided to reopen all the mobile schools which once were closed due to militancy and make them functional for providing better educational facilities to the community at their doorsteps.
Speaking on the occasion union minister for new and renewable energy  Dr Farooq Abdullah  recalled his association with the trust and said that the trust played a pivotal role in providing educational facilities and making all out efforts in preserving the rich culture of the Gujjar Community.
Union minister for health Ghulam Nabi Azad said that Gujjar Community with its rich historical past and culture make an essential component of our culture. He said its important that we preserve our rich culture and traditions that are known worldwide and Gojri language which is a symbol of Gojri culture must be protected.
He expressed gratitude to the UPA chairperson for her visit despite the “fact that a number of people were hell bent to sabotage her visit”.
State Congress chief, Saif-ud-din Soz said that this mega cultural centre for Gujjars shall definitely work in the long run to change the socio-cultural conditions of the community.
In his welcome address, Masood Choudhary gave a brief resume of the activities being carried out in the GDCT and said that this centre shall strive for improving the social-cultural condition of the community.
Sonia left back for Delhi in the evening.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 29 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 29 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 May 2010 00:00:00 IST