Cong always exploited people of Ladakh for votes
Avtar Bhat
KARGIL (LADAKH), May 2: Striking an emotional card, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary incharge J&K, Ram Madhav today assured the people of Turtuk that all efforts will be made in uniting them with their relatives in Baltistan across the LoC.
Madhav, who was addressing mammoth election rallies in Turtuk and Bogdang in border belt of Kargil district of Ladakh region today said that the people of the area have been separated from their relatives and friends living across in Baltistan and BJP Government will make all efforts in reuniting them.
Making a strong dig at Congress, he held it responsible for the total neglect of the area. “Congress party which has been always voted from here has totally neglected the people of the area”.
“The party adopted the attitude of criminal negligence towards the area when it was in power with the result the area remained backward and deprived of development”, he added.
He said the area though having a lot of potential for promotion of tourism, was totally neglected by the successive Congress Governments. The party was only interested in seeking vote and not in public welfare, he added.
Madhav held previous Congress Governments at State and Centre responsible for the present plight of the people in this border belt and said except exploiting them for vote politics the party never showed any interest in the development of this backward and far-flung region. He said it is not known huge funds were pumped by Union Government for the development of the State but instead spending them on welfare of the people and development of the State, the successive rulers diverted them to their personnel coffers leaving common masses high and dry.
He alleged that the Turtuk belt was totally neglected by the previous governments and assured that the development will be given pace in the area. Madhav said tourism sector will be given main thrust and promotion of eco tourism will be the priority for employment generation. The Turtuk and Nobra Valley will be made tourist destinations to attrack more and more visitors from different parts of country and abroad.
He regretted that no body bothered to visit this area after former Deputy Prime Minister, L K Advani visited here in 1993 and took an initiative for development of tourism in the area. Later the UPA Government neglected it completely. “It was only Modi Government which took an initiative to develop this region and many projects were announced in this regard,” he added.
Identifying itself with the problems of people living in border belt of Turtuk, Madhav said that his party will leave no stone unturned in pursuing the State as well as Central Government to construct the Turtuk -Tha Hanu road linking the area with Kargil district.
He said construction of this road will be important both strategically as well as defence angle because with its construction the 300 km distance will be reduced in traveling to Kargil from Turtuk. This will give a lot of relief to people of the area, he added.
Madhav assured the people that he will take up the issue with the Union as well as State Government and besides other steps will also be taken for the over all development of Nobra Valley including Turtuk.
He said BJP is committed to Narendra Modi’s Mantra ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ and it will leave no stone unturned to develop the area including the Thang which is the last village on LoC bordering Pakistan. He said the people of the area will be provided all basic amenities of life by Modi Government.
Appealing the people to vote in favour of Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, BJP Lok Sabha candidate for Ladakh region, he said “you will soon see the difference as the party is committed to develop all the neglected areas of country at par with its other developed regions”.
He assured the people that all their demands will be fulfilled including establishment of the Degree college in the area saying that all steps will be taken to make Ladakh region a self sustained place.
He said youth from different parts of country will be brought here under cultural exchange programme to apprise the people of other parts of the country about the rich Balti culture. He said under UDDAN civilian airport will be established in the area. Besides, all steps will be taken for the export of Apricot which is the famous fruit of Kargil by removing all hurdles in it.
Madhav who held a meeting of the party office bearers in Leh later said the BJP is committed to its poll manifesto released yesterday which among other things has promised UT Status and inclusion of Bhoti language in 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution.
He said the Ladakh has been given the divisional status and BJP will strive for fulfilling the demand for grant of district status to some other areas also.
BJP senior leader and former Minister Choudhary Sukhnandan, party senior leader Manish Sharma and Tashi also accompanied Madhav during campaigning in the area.
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