Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 17: Senior Congress leader and member of the Congress Working Committee, Vikar Rasool Wani, has completed an extensive three-day visit to border villages in Uri and Tangdhar, which have been severely affected by cross-border shelling.
Wani visited multiple villages, including Rajanwari, Bandi, Lagama, Salamabad, and Calkagi in the Uri sector, as well as Hajiner, Tangdhar, Gomal, Batpora, and Turbuni in the Tanghdar sector. He met with the families whose lives have been deeply disrupted by ongoing tensions along the Line of Control.
In candid discussions, residents shared their concerns about the lack of rehabilitation measures, limited livelihood options, and persistent security challenges.
“These resilient communities are living under extraordinarily difficult circumstances that demand immediate national attention. Their stories reflect not just a regional issue but a humanitarian crisis that calls for coordinated action at the highest levels,” Wani said.
Wani pledged to personally bring the residents’ concerns to the attention of senior Congress leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. He stressed that the rehabilitation and security of these communities must be treated as a national priority, calling for cross-party cooperation to develop sustainable solutions.
The Congress leader also issued a strong appeal to both the Central and State Governments to formulate a concrete rehabilitation policy for affected border families. He underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive support framework that offers both immediate relief and long-term stability.
“National security and human security must go hand-in-hand,” Wani asserted. “We cannot speak of secure borders without ensuring the wellbeing of those who live along them,” he added.
The tour concluded with Wani addressing a gathering of Congress workers in Handwara area, where he received a warm welcome.
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