Previous PDP-Cong Govt created new distts on political considerations: Dr Jitendra

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh addressing a public meeting at Billawar on Saturday.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh addressing a public meeting at Billawar on Saturday.

BJP for separate distt for Billawar-Basohli

Avtar Bhat

KATHUA, Jan 7 : Accusing the then Congress-People’s Democratic Party (PDP) coalition Government of doing reorganisation of new districts purely on political considerations, Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that the BJP has always stood for a separate hilly district for Billawar-Basohli besides carving out of hilly districts of Ramban and Kishtwar out of erstwhile Doda district and grant of district status to Reasi.
Addressing a mammoth public rally at Billawar, 90 km from here, Dr Jitendra Singh said for political considerations and vote bank politics, the coalition did not concede the demand and gave justice to the people of this hilly region of Billawar and Basohli.
The Union Minister said in comparison to that in Kashmir Valley’s two districts Ganderbal and Budgam were carved out of erstwhile Srinagar district when their distance from Srinagar is hardly 20 to 25 kilometres respectively.
Likewise three more districts including Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam were carved out of erstwhile Anantnag district when the distance between these districts is not over 20 kilometers.
Lambasting the previous rulers he accused them of doing total injustice with Jammu region whose most area is hilly and terrain. He said Billawar and Basohli which are the part of Kathua district are almost 90 kms away from district headquarters were not considered for district status for political reasons.
Dr Jitendra Singh promised that when BJP comes to power in Jammu & Kashmir, it will propose a hill district for the region. He said for organisation activities BJP has already given the district status to Billawar-Basohli in its party setup.
The Union Minister said it was the BJP’s long standing demand that new districts be created out of erstwhile Doda district and Reasi and creation of hilly district of Basohli and Billawar is most viable demand.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, the BJP has, in its organisational set up, already recognised Billawar-Basohli as a separate district for many years now and the allocation of organisational responsibilities is also done accordingly. He said the reorganisation of districts done last time by the PDP-Congress coalition government was arbitrary and devoid of rationale.
At that time also, said the Minister, “Though we were in opposition in J&K, we had strongly demanded a separate hill district for Billawar-Basohli but the Reorganisation Committee constituted by the then government did not pay any heed and instead, decided to have ten districts each for each of the two divisions of Kashmir and Jammu. This was done at the behest of the then Kashmir centric ruling coalition totally for their political considerations”.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the entire Billawar-Basohli belt is endowed with natural beauty, rich traditional art particularly painting and people from here have made name for themselves in different walks of life including medical profession, administration, creative arts, etc. However, he lamented that the Governments in the past followed a policy of regional discrimination, as a result of which this region did not receive its due.
Recalling the last eight to nine years of the Government headed by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra Singh said that from 2014 onwards, there has been an equitable allocation of Central funds and resources for every region and particularly after J&K turned into Union Territory in 2019 there has been a conscious attempt to ensure that every section of people and every region gets its due.
Dr Jitendra Singh thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for facilitating the approval of the landmark Chattergala tunnel linking this area to Doda-Bhaderwah , which will drastically reduce the journey time, besides generating revenue and employment. He informed that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Minister had issued the instructions to include the Chattergala Tunnel in the new Bharatmala Project.
He said the much talked about Ujh Project which was even conceived 60 years back was put in backburner, has been sanctioned by Modi Government. This project along with construction of Shahpur Kandi which too was not approved by previous Kashmir centric Governments, will turn a game changer for the twin Kathua -Samba districts and boost economy of the area.
On the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh also referred to an amount of over Rs. 75 Lakh from his MP Fund which has been allocated for the area despite the COVID pandemic. He said, while Rs 25 Lakh of MP fund was spent on construction work in Mandli, another Rs 25 lakh of MP fund is also being supplemented for extending the same work. At the same time, additional Rs 25 Lakh of MP fund is being allocated for a Community Hall in Baddu.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that he has advised the district administration to run a special drive to promote the world famous Basohli paintings so that people from far and wide get to know of the artistic excellence of this area.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion were DDC Chairman Col Mahan Singh, Municipal Chairman, S K Basotra, BJP district president Dinesh Singh Thakur, DDC Members, Vikram Singh, Narayan Dutt Tripathi and Neeru Rajput. All of them one after the other lauded the development work done by Dr Jitendra Singh during his tenure as MP.
Earlier on his arrival this morning, Dr Jitendra Singh was given a rousing welcome by BJYM youth workers who took out a Bike Rally accompanying him to the venue of the programme. Dr Jitendra Singh was stopped at four different places on his way to Billawar by cheering crowds who had gathered on the roadside to welcome him.