Pogal, Paristan, July 16 : Terming PDP’s brief period of rule under the leadership of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed an era of peace, development and prosperity PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today blamed the coalition government led by National Conference for the socio-economic deprivation of people living in backward areas of the state.
 Addressing a public meeting at Pugal paristan in district Ramban, Mehbooba said, “The bad and corruption ridden governance in the state is responsible for poor development in the mountainous regions of Jammu and Kashmir.”
 “Though there is no significant development in other regions of the state but the dismal developmental scenario of Chenab Valley speaks volumes about inefficiency, corruption and the bad governance in our state,” she remarked.
 The PDP president observed that despite being rich in natural resources like water, power mineral and forests, the region is still far off from the basics of quality life standards and the much needed infrastructure.
 “The people of this Valley as prime stake holders in their natural resources should have been the beneficiaries of electricity the government produces from their waters,” she asked adding that the National Conference has always befooled the people of backward areas through rhetoric and political gimmickries. Mehbooba termed the demand for renegotiation of terms with NHPC on various power projects as genuine. However, she said it would require people support to actually have a breakthrough on the issue.
 “PDP believes that with the people’s support and adopting democratic means we could make government of India understand what we have lost in last more than four decades through emotional politicking and vested interests of National Conference,” she said. Referring to latest road mishap in which around 15 Amarnath pilgrims were killed, and the connectivity crisis in the region, Mehbooba termed the roads of the region as “death traps”. “Hundreds have perished on these dilapidated roads and all those precious lives seem to have gone unnoticed. The present government has no time to address this grave issue. By announcing the ex gratia reliefs in favour of the deceased and injured, the present government has always regressed from ground reality when it comes to these tragedies especially in this region,” she said.
 The previous coalition government led by PDP had started ambitious plans for connecting the region with Kashmir via Sinthan pass. “Unfortunately there is no headway on those projects. Even the present government has failed avail benefits from the central government sponsored road connectivity projects,” she regretted.
 Mehbooba said that many areas in Chenab Valley are yet to have trafficable roads and some places remain accessible only by foot and cut off by snow for most part of the year. “There is a dire need to help out people of this region from this administrative inertia. I assure you that with your support things will not remain the same and you will witness a holistic change in this region,” Mehbooba pledged.
 Expressing concern over the poor medical facilities available in the region, Mehbooba said it was highly remorseful that ailing people of this region are supposed to cut a distance of hundreds of kilometers to get treated either in Srinagar or in Jammu. “Similarly, there are reports that doctors are not available in many primary health centres in this region. The present government is trying to hoodwink the people of this region through false sloganeering. This is absolutely pitiful,” she remarked.
 On this occasion people of the area put forth various demands before the PDP president including direct police recruitment, a degree college in the area and upgradation of schools, sports stadium for the the local sports men, a branch of JKBank in the area,PHC and CAPD sale centres including proper water and power supply as the people are facing immense scarcity of these essential services in the area. The people also urged for the development of tourism in the area.
 Party general secretary Thakur Balbir Singh, district president Abdul Ahad Wani, youth general secretary Showkat Javaid Deng, Bahar Rouniyal, Imtiyaz Khandey, Qazi Muhammad Hussain , Abdul Aziz Malik and Muhammad Iqbal Katoch also spoke to the occasion.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST