Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, Aug 2: As a sequel to the letter from Raj Bhavan to Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and former Union Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad over the recurring road accidents, the latter has sent separate communiqué to Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and all of his Congress Ministerial colleagues urging them all to understand the gravity of situation and take remedial measures to save precious human lives.
The official communication, written by Mr Azad to the Chief Minister dated July 24, 20214, which is in possession of EXCELSIOR, while expressing concern over the State of affairs has stated that coherent road safety mechanism needs to be put in place at the earliest.
While referring to the letter written by State Governor N N Vohra dated July 7, 2014 to him (Mr Azad), the former Union Health Minister, says in his letter, “the State Governor in his letter addressed to me has enlisted the measure envisaged by the State Government to minimize the occurrence of accidents. I feel the Governor is very keen to have in place a comprehensive road safety mechanism in the State so that loss of precious human lives is minimized to the extent possible”.
“In keeping with the Governor’s wish, I have also asked my party colleagues in the State Government to extend fullest cooperation in implementing the proposed measures”, says the document.
Seeking personal intervention of the Chief Minister, the letter says, “Given the pain and anguish caused to the people by recurrent road accidents, I hope you will appreciate the necessity of having a coherent road safety mechanism in place and accordingly, urge the concerned authorities to take immediate steps in this regard”.
A copy of the letter has also been sent to Governor, N N Vohra.
Officials sources in the State Cabinet said on the same day (July 24, 2014), Mr Azad had sent separate communication to all the 11 Congress members in the Council of Ministers. The individual letter have been addressed to Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand; Minister for Public Enterprise, Haj and Auqaf, Peerzada Mohammad Syed; Minister for Health and Medical Education, Taj Mohi-ud-Din; Minister for Urban Development and Local Bodies, Nawang Rigzin Jora; Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma; Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Sports, Raman Bhalla; Minister for Tourism, G A Mir; Minister for R&B and Mechanical Engineering, Abdul Majid Wani; Minister for Revenue, Ajaz Ahmed Khan; Minister for Cooperative, Manohar Lal Sharma; Minister for State Technical Education, Vikar Rasool Wani.
Seeking personal intervention of the Congress Cabinet colleagues, the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha in his letter says, “road accidents have become a constant source of anguish and bewilderment for the people of State, responsible for several avoidable deaths and injuries”.
Asking the Congress Ministers to show due sensitivity and alacrity in the matter, the letter says, “it becomes our moral responsibility to implement the proposed ‘Action Plan’ prepared by the State Government for curbing the recurring road accidents in the State”.
Referring to the letter written by State Governor N N Vohra to him, Mr Azad in his communication to the Congress leaders says, “taking note of my statements published in Daily Excelsior newspaper dated 17 June, 2014, on frequent occurrence of road accidents, the Governor has expressed his deep concern. He also highlighted the measures the State Government envisages to take to brig down the occurrence of road accidents”.
“What I could comprehend is that he is very keen to have minimized the road accident rate in the State and in this context, has got worked out a proposal by the State Government to check the rising number of road accidents. He has got organised a meeting of Central experts with senior representatives of the State Government at Raj Bhawan two years ago”, says the letter.
The document added, “for the quick implementation of road safety measures that have been formulated on the instance and initiative of Governor, he has requested me to ask my party colleagues in the State Government to extend their fullest cooperation”.
The State Governor in his letter to Mr Azad had informed him that 25,945 road accidents took place in the last three years (2011-14), leading to death of 4,322 innocent persons, young and old”,
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