Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Jan 19: Accusing the successive Congress Governments of neglecting the far-flung hilly areas in Jammu region, Union Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh today regretted that several national level leaders from the parties which ruled the State and the Centre never paid attention for the development of far-flung hilly areas of Jammu region and welfare of the people there.
Addressing a well-attended public meeting at Gool in Ramban district today inspite of the ongoing snowfall, Dr Jitendra Singh said that, under the Narendra Modi Government, in five years, a sincere effort has been made to make up for the lapses of the past 65 years of Congress rule.
He said what Congress failed to do on developmental front in last 65 years, the Modi Government accomplished that in just five years and this is the greatest achievement of BJP led dispensation at Centre.
Lambasting the leaders of Congress and National Conference, (NC), Dr Jitendra Singh said that after winning the elections from this far off area and attaining name and fame for themselves they never came back to visit the area to address the problems of the masses. Instead they left the people in lurch who voted and supported them over the years, he added.
Highlighting the performance and achievements of Modi Government at Centre, Dr Jitendra Singh said it has brought a new work culture in the country which never existed in past. Criticising the opposition for leveling baseless and wild allegations against the Modi Government that nothing was done in last five years, Dr Jitendra Singh said these parties are suffering with political myopia as whatever has been done during last five years is totally visible on ground.
He said that development of hilly and far flung areas of country including North Eastern Region and J&K is the priority of Central Government.
He said the people of remote Ukhral in Ramban district would have never expected a Degree College had Narendra Modi not been at the helm of affairs. Maintaining that present Government is wedded to the cause of poor people of this country especially those who were neglected over the years, Dr Jitendra Singh said a KV has been proposed at Gool and the land for the same has been identified.
While highlighting the achievements, he said that within last three to four years, three landmark road tunnels have been approved for the erstwhile Doda district. These include the Chhattergalla tunnel connecting Banni-Basohli directly to Doda, second important tunnel connecting Khelani with Sudh Mahadev and the third tunnel at Kaljugar connecting Doda with Chamba in Himachal Pradesh.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, while these tunnels would be game-changer for enhancing the connectivity of the region, the question that the people should ask is why such initiatives were not taken in the past, even though the erstwhile Doda district has been represented by several important Ministers in the Congress Governments, both in the State and the Centre.
Not only this, he said, a politically important township of Gandoh, which takes pride of being the native place of several luminaries, did not have a Post Office for 70 years and the first Post Office was set up only last year, while the first branch of State Bank of India with ATM was opened two weeks back.
The foundation stone for the first ever National Institute of High Altitude Medicine was laid on 15th December last year in Bhaderwah, which could also have been done by previous Congress regimes.
Dr Jitendra Singh informed that the new bridge over river Chenab at Ramban has been approved and the work will start anytime now. He also mentioned two Degree Colleges recently approved for district Ramban, one for the far-flung area of Ukhral, which was ignored even by some of those who hailed from this area and held important positions at the national level, while the other college has been approved for Batote.
As far as Gool-Arnas is concerned, Dr Jitendra Singh said, a Sports Stadium has been sanctioned from the Central Fund.
From his MP-Fund, Dr Jitendra Singh said, Rs 50 lakh has already been spent on Gool for different works, including the upliftment of Ghoda-Gali which was pending for several years. From his MP-Fund itself, he announced the setting up of a Community Hall at Sangaldhan.
On the occasion, a day-long medical camp was also held with the assistance of Rashtriya Rifles and Army Medical Corps. Super-Specialists and Specialists in different fields including Cardiology, Endocrinology, Orthopedics, Gynecology, General Medicine, etc. attended over 3,000 patients.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, this area is yet to receive adequate healthcare facility, for which also he urged the Governor’s regime to take necessary measures.
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