Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, Oct 28: Kick-starting the poll campaign of Congress Party in Banihal constituency of Chenab valley, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and former J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today addressed the first public meeting in Banihal and sought the mandate of people on the plank of development.
All the Chenab valley constituencies are going to polls in the first phase ( Nov 25) of the election schedule notified by Election Commission of India.
Inspite of rain and cold weather, Azad addressed thousands of party workers and locals at Banihal and asked the workers to pull their socks for the forthcoming poll battle in the State.
Speaking on the occasion, Azad sought the mandate of the people on the plank of development and progress, which has been his forte as Chief Minister and Union Minister. He assured the people that State would revert to the same era of spectacular progress and development as was witnessed during his tenure as Chief Minister of J&K, if people repose trust and confidence in the Congress Party.
Reminding the people of the revolutionary pace of development during his Chief Ministership, Azad said that remote and backward areas of the State received focussed attention as for the first time the narrative of development moved beyond the confines of Jammu & Srinagar cities.
Azad said that creation of new districts was one of the transformational steps taken during his tenure which mitigated the sufferings of the people in the hilly and far flung areas and gave new impetus to the development in such areas. Divulging his vision for the Chenab valley, Azad said that empowerment and devolution of powers for bringing governance closer to the people and speeding up the process of development will be main thrust of Congress Party if voted to power.
Recalling his thrust on power sector, Azad said during his Chief Ministership Dul Hasti Hydel Project and Baghliar Hydel Power Project were got completed and inaugurated by Prime Minister, in addition to taking up of Nimo Bazgo and Chutak Power Projects. He further said that International Tariff-Based Bidding was introduced first time in the country under his Chief Ministership when Rattle Hydel Power Project was put to tenders, under which the terms and conditions have been extremely beneficial for the State.
Maintaining that he laid special emphasis on the Power sector in Chenab valley and established Chenab Valley Power Projects Corporation (CVPPC) to harness the hydel power potential of the region, Azad said that sustained thrust would have made J&K State a power-surplus State, besides creating unlimited opportunities of employment for the local youth.
Urging the people to vote in favour of candidates of his Party, Azad said that power generation will be shortlisted as a priority area in the scheme of governance and new projects will be set up with renewed zeal to open new avenues for the youth and people of the area.
Azad said that to harness the tourism potential of Chenab valley, a master plan for tourism development will be formulated by a reputed consultancy of international standards so that eco- friendly and holistic tourism model is conceived and implemented for the area.
Congratulating the people for getting numerous sub-divisions, tehsils, blocks and niabats, Azad said that history has been created in the Chenab valley by getting highest number of administrative units adding that it has not happened due to charity, rather it was the political weight and persuasion that compelled the State Government to consider the demands of Chenab valley.
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