Excelsior Correspondent
GUREZ (BANDIPORA), Nov 22: Asserting that the Congress-led Government alone can change the destiny of remote, backward and far flung areas of the State, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad said “we have demonstrated our will and ability between 2006-08 to spread the fruits of developments to the hitherto neglected and marginalised areas like Gurez, Tangdhar, Dadakh, Chenab valley, Arnas, Pir Panjal etc”.
Seeking a decisive mandate from the people of the State, Azad said that only Congress-led Government can assure continuity and momentum for the development and progress in the State in the most equitable, balanced and just way.
He was speaking at a public gathering at Tulail, Gurez, in support of Congress candidate Raja Faqir Mohammad Khan Gurezi, ex-MLA.
Giving an overview of the works done by him as Chief Minister for remote and far off areas like Gurez, Tangdhar etc., Azad said that roads, colleges, hospitals, schools were constructed during the Congress-led regime in a coordinated and expeditious manner and that these landmarks are visible on the ground.
Azad also recalled about the special recruitment drives which were carried out for the local youth in J&K Police and CRPF during his tenure, adding that unemployment is a tough challenge to be addressed with a comprehensive action plan.
Trashing the claims of certain regional parties who were seeking vote in the name of stopping BJP’s onslaught in J&K, Azad said that people of the State know how these regional parties are going overboard to mollycoddle BJP in their lust for power and that their claims of fighting the saffron are far from truth.
He further said that it is the Congress alone which has the capacity and determination to thwart the divisive agenda of BJP and therefore, the need of the hour is to strengthen the Congress in the State.
Asserting that Congress has an agenda and roadmap which can accommodate the urges and aspirations of all regions and sections with fairness, equity and justice, Azad called upon the people of the State to give a decisive and convincing mandate to the Congress in order to revive the process of development with renewed thrust.
While drawing attention of the people to the devastating earthquake October 2005, Azad said that the massive reconstruction work was started by his Government with the full support of UPA in a coordinated, efficient and serious manner, as that was the first challenge which Congress-led Government had to tackle.
Azad said that “time-tested, credible and capable” regime of Congress-led Govt. alone can bring out the flood-ravaged State out of morass & put the devastated economy of the State on the path of reconstruction, prosperity and progress.
Azad further said that the massive challenge of reconstruction and rehabilitation cannot be carried out by mere sloganeering or making hollow promises, rather a concerted and coordinated effort is required to rebuild the lives of the people, adding that it is Congress Party alone which can measure upto the challenges that lie ahead.
“If development-oriented, clean and transparent governance is what people of flood-ravaged J&K require people must give chance to Congress Party, as its credentials in reconstruction are very well known”, said Azad.
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