Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, July 8: As the much talked about Congress Policy Planning Group today visited Kargil district in Ladakh and met cross sections of people there for getting feed back of locals, former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, who is leading the Group, gave a new twist to objective of the visit by admitting that these interactions were facilitating the party to gear up for the forthcoming elections.
“We will continue these meetings, which help us to prepare the party for the forthcoming elections,” he said while talking to media persons after coming out of the venue for meetings with the local delegations at Kargil today.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad along with PCC president G A Mir were accompanying P Chidambaram as Members of the Congress Policy Planning Group.
While elaborating, Mr Chidambaram pointed out the Parliamentary elections would certainly take place in next 10 months while the J&K Assembly elections would also take place some time around.
“Therefore, while we reach out to the people, we try to understand what they feel, what they think, what they are annoyed about, what they want and what they don’t want, which is helping us to prepare the party for elections,” he explained.
Terming the meetings of Congress Policy Planning Group as part of outreach to people of Jammu and Kashmir State, Mr Chidambaram informed that such meetings would continue in smaller groups.
“In fact people in smaller groups will even go to the districts and meet different section of people for their feedback,” he added.
Expressing satisfaction over outcome of the meetings, Mr Chidambaram said that the Group met over 12 delegations from different sections of people in Kargil besides over 300 Congress workers who were ready to fight elections whenever these are held.
“This exercise will continue across the State and we will also try to visit some sensitive districts of Jammu for more feedback,” he informed.
In response to a query, P Chidambaram reiterated that there was no question of entering into an alliance with PDP.
Claiming that people of Jammu and Kashmir would not forgive PDP and BJP for the unholy alliance and betraying the mandate, the Congress leader predicted very different results in the next elections.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, in his response to the media queries, said that during the series of meetings with the people at Kargil, a comprehensive feed back was taken on the current political situation and aspirations of the locals. Whenever a policy is framed, opinion of Kargil and Ladakh people, their leaders and civil society will be included in the same,” he said.
While elaborating on aims and objectives of the Policy Group visits, which had gone to Jammu and Srinagar last year, Mr Azad said,” Delhi is visited by leaders but feed back from civil society and workers at grass root level is not received as they can’t reach there. Instead of making them to reach Delhi for giving feedback, we are here to listen to you.”
In response to another query, Mr Azad said that the party was prepared for contesting Kargil Hill Development Council elections, which are likely to be held this year.
The Congress Policy Planning Group met cross sections of people to get to know their views on different issues in the Ladakh division, especially in Kargil district.
The Group met various deputations from all over Kargil district, who briefed the PPG about the socio-political scenario and other issues pertaining to overall development of the region. Many important issues of public importance also came up for discussion.
The deputations, which called on the Group, included Hill Council Kargil, Bar Association Kargil, Ahli Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Buddhist Association of Kargil, Sikh minority, Hindu minority, Merchant Association, EJAC Kargil, Imam Khomeni Memorial Trust, DCC Kargil, Zanaskar Sub Division and various other deputations.
The PPG had last year visited Jammu and then Kashmir Division under the leadership of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. This time, the Group is headed by P. Chidambaram.
The CPPG is scheduled to leave for Leh district tomorrow, where it will also meet various deputations.
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