Ganderbal, Nov 14: National Conference Provincial Secretary Sheikh Ghulam Ahmad Saloora on Monday said that “some forces” were working overtime to weaken the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.   
 “No power can change the Chief Minister till the present government completes its full term,” Saloora said while addressing a gathering here.
 He said that it was amazing that when Arundati Roy talks about the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and freedom of Kashmir no one raises hue and cry, “but when our Chief Minister talks about the revocation of AFSPA from some areas all the guns are trained towards him,” he said. 
 Saloora while referring to ouster of senior NC leader, Dr Mustafa Kamaal, from the post of party’s chief spokesman, he said, “He (Kamaal) is an outspoken and sincere man and he speaks the language of people. However, everybody has to abide by high commands decision.”
 Saloora welcomed recent remarks of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on AFSPA revocation.
 Saloora said the educationally and economically backward area of Sherpathri, comprising more than 40 villages should be granted the ‘development block’ status.
 “In 1996, the then Chief Secretary of the state turned down the proposal to grant  backward status to Sherpathri village due to the political reasons,” he said.
 “For Sherpathri area, CM has released 20 per cent of the total amount of Rs 6 Crore for different developmental works,” he said.
 “In the last few years, the macadamization of 60 km road was completed. Besides, 44 km road was undertaken in Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3 which will be black topped in near future”, he claimed.
 He said that the work on the much-awaited 93 MW New Ganderbal Hydro-Electric Power Project will be initiated soon for which the tenders have already been floated.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST