Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 14: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad today kicked off election campaign of the Congress for upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in erstwhile Doda district by addressing three public meetings at Banihal and Doda and calling upon the people to make the Congress candidates victorious.
He declared that the Congress would form next Government in the State.
The Union Health Minister announced upgradation of 100 bedded District Hospital in Kishtwar to 200 bedded, Maternity Hospital for Kishtwar subject to availability of land, 30 bedded hospitals for Marwah and Warwan, 22 new Medical Sub Centres for Banihal and a number of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) at different places.
Addressing public meetings at Khari and Ukhral in Banihal Assembly segment, Neel Top in Doda constituency and inter-acting with various delegations in Kishtwar town during his whirlwind tour of three districts, which formed part of erstwhile Doda district, Mr Azad called upon the party leaders and activists to brace up for next year’s Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to make Congress victorious in both the polls.
“Only few months have been left for the Lok Sabha elections, which would be followed by the Assembly polls. The party leaders and workers should brace up for the polls and make the Congress victorious,” he said and expressed confidence that the Congress would form next Government at the Centre as well as the State.
Mr Azad, who happened to be former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, voiced concern over backwardness of erstwhile Doda district but listed the works done by Dr Manmohan Singh led UPA Government in the bad pockets to develop them on priority.
He declared that the Congress would take the State to path of development and ensure that no areas were left under developed.
Mr Azad flew to Srinagar this morning and left for remote and upper reaches of Banihal by chopper. He addressed rallies at Khari, Ukhral and Neel Top before reaching Kishtwar, where he met a large number of deputations of political, social and religious organisations. He would have night halt at Kishtwar and tomorrow address public meetings at Naali, Bounjwah, Gandoh and Bhaderwah in Doda and Kishtwar districts. He would have night halt at Bhaderwah tomorrow. He would host Diwali-Eid-Gurupurab Milan at Jammu on November 16 afternoon before returning to New Delhi.
The Union Minister expressed confidence that the Congress would retain both Lok Sabha seats of Jammu region (Udhampur-Doda and Jammu-Poonch) and considerably improve its tally in the Assembly elections to form next Government in the State. He told the people that the Congress would also form next Government at the Centre.
Mr Azad told the gathering that the UPA Government has initiated lot of development projects in the State especially on health front. He announced 22 new Medical Sub Centres for Banihal and PHCs for Mangit, Trigam Pogal, Neil, Senapati and Ukhral at a cost of Rs 3 crores to improve health scenario in the tehsil. He announced PHC for Top Neel and two Medical Sub Centres for Mehar and Gahri.
He cautioned the people against the designs of communal forces, who, he said, have become active ahead of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the State. He added that these organisations would try to exploit religious and emotional sentiments of the people but asked the gathering to see through their designs.
In Kishtwar, Mr Azad announced that 100 bedded District Hospital would be upgraded to 200 bedded Hospital and 30 bedded Hospitals for Marwah and Dachchan subject to availability of land. He said a Maternity Hospital would also be set up in Kishtwar if the land was available. He also announced a PHC for Dachchan.
The Union Minister inter-acted with a large number of delegations of different political parties, social and religious organisations from both the communities, who apprised him of August 9 violence and its aftermath. He hailed both the communities for maintaining communal amity after the ugly incidents of violence. He called upon the people to maintain peace and amity as they had been doing for past quite sometime.
Former Minister and Congress MLA from Inderwal, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, former Minister of State for Home and NC MLA from Kishtwar Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo and PDP MLC Asgar Ali among others attended the meeting called by Mr Azad at Kishtwar. However, the BJP abstained.
Few days back, Mr Azad had conducted two days extensive tour of border areas in Samba, RS Pura and Pargwal, which were badly hit by Pakistan shelling and firing.
Though the Union Minister didn’t speak much on politics, his tour was widely believed to be the start of party’s election campaign for Lok Sabha elections.
Mr Azad said that by virtue of the liberal funding by Central Government, a revolution of progress and prosperity has been recorded in Jammu and Kashmir during last five years of the coalition.
Appreciating the efforts of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the Union Minister said that the State Government registered several milestones in upgrading vital sectors like education, health, road connectivity and communication facilities in both urban as well as rural and remote areas of the State.
Giving resume of a few landmark activities of the Government, Mr. Azad said that Rs 30 lakh have been spent in first phase for setting up of two Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) under skill development scheme in Khari and Ukhral.
The Union Minister said that far flung districts of the State which include Ramban, Kishtwar and Doda are being given special attention in respect of development and welfare by the Central Government. He said that schemes like RMSA and SSA are under implementation to extend quality education facilities to the far flung areas and PMGSY and other related schemes have been successful in spreading network of roads and communication to uncovered areas of the State.
The Government has an objective to eradicate poverty from the face of the society besides extending employment opportunities to the youth and in this direction several initiatives have been taken collectively by the Central and State Governments, Mr Azad said.
Vikar Rasool while addressing the public meetings said that during the regime of Ghulam Nabi Azad as Chief Minister, the State of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed rapid growth and large number of projects both developmental and welfare were launched. He said several mega Receiving Stations were set up, Higher Secondary complexes were sanctioned; several roads and link roads were constructed besides extending essential services to various uncovered areas in Banihal.
Expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the Union Minister for evincing personal interest in the development of Banihal, Vikar said that Mr Azad left no stone unturned in giving fillip to several sectors related to common masses by providing liberal funding from the Central Government. He hoped that the State in general and Banihal in particular will receive affectionate patronage from Mr. Azad in future also.
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