Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 10: Cautioning the people against the political groups, which are bent upon to divide them on religious, caste and regional lines, Minister for Planning and Development, Labour and Employment, Ajay Sadhotra today appealed them to supplement Government efforts of ensuring overall growth of the State.
He was addressing a public meeting at Sangrampur in Marh block to seek support for coalition candidate Madan Lal Sharma. Sarpanchs, Panchs and other prominent persons of Sangrampur and adjoining villages were present in the meeting.
Sadhotra said National Conference has always stood for the cause of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their welfare and has never indulged in raising hollow slogans to misguide and mis-direct the people for political gains. NC-Congress coalition is based on principles with secular credentials and commitment for the welfare of the state and the Coalition Government under the stewardship of Omar Abdullah will usher the State in an era of peace, prosperity and all round development, he added. The NC leader said that the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already drawn the blue print for speedy development of all the three regions especially for the areas requiring focus for faster development. Sadhotra appealed to the people to vote in favour of Madan Lal Sharma, NC-Congress coalition candidate from Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary Constituency and said that their vote in favour of the NC-Congress coalition candidate will be the vote for progress and prosperity of Jammu & Kashmir.
Former MLC of NC, Kashmira Singh was also present in the meeting beside other prominent people of the locality. The programme was organized by Block President Ashwani Sharma.
Speaking on abrogation of Article 370, Sadhotra said Article 370 is a bridge between the country and the state and those who are talking of abrogation of the article are befooling the people. Alleging that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is habitual of raising frivolous issues ahead of the 2014 elections with malicious intent of polarising the State, Minister said that the Saffron party talks about Mandir issue and revocation of Article 370 only during the election times in a bid to hoodwink the public opinion and incite passions.
He urged the people to remain vigilant against the machinations of the parties like BJP and PDP, and alleged that the main agenda these parties is to polarize the situation and benefit from division in the society.