Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 4: MP Rajya Sabha Gulam Ali Khatana today urged the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to give special focus to areas inhabited by tribal and backward communities and appoint a special task force in all the districts to map these areas and augment provide basic facilities like road, electricity, potable drinking water and healthcare.
Addressing a well attended meeting at Phallain Mandal, organized by Sarpanch Amarjeet Kour, Khatana said that successive Governments during past seven decades have neglected the areas inhabited by tribals, Gujjars, Bakkerwals, Gaddi, Sippies and backward communities and even funds earmarked for their development were diverted for other works.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi led BJP Government has focused on equitable development of marginalized sections of society in Jammu and Kashmir. He urged the local administration to constitute a special task force at district level to identify under-developed and undeveloped areas and formulate time based plans to augment the basic facilities in such areas.
Khatana said that divisive forces are trying to create division among the various sections of the society and people should remain beware of such anti-social and anti-national forces. “Home Minister Amit Shah thwarted the attempts of such division by reiterating that ST quota of Gujjar-Bakkerwals won’t be disturbed and Paharis would be accommodated separately,’ he added.
“Now the divisive forces are trying to create a wedge between the Gujjars and Bakkerwals but such attempts would not succeed. We will jointly fight and defeat such forces and expose their evil designs,” he added.
Earlier, organizer Alam Din listed demands of the people of the area. Others who spoke on the occasion, included BDC Chairman Madan Lal Bhagat and Sarpanch Prahladpur Amarjeet Kour.
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