LG administration fostering non locals at the cost of locals’ livelihood: Rattan Lal Gupta
KATRA, 18 April : Accusing the BJP Government of providing contracts of development works to non locals, Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President JK NC Jammu on Monday said that non-locals are being fostered at the cost of livelihood of locals.
The NC stalwart leader was addressing NC workers convention here as chief guest. The convention was organized by Sher Singh, senior NC leader in which party activists and leaders from far off regions of district Reasi participated.
Rattan Lal said that the BJP Government at the centre has clogged all scope of locals to thrive and live with dignity and pride as it has snatched the livelihood of the people by giving undue preference to outsiders as in the case of contractors, the fact which the Mayor of JMC has also endorsed publically, in a statement to one of the leading newspapers in Jammu had accepted that contracts are being given to outsiders discriminating the local contractors, which is suicidal for the local economy and people of the UT as well.
Sher Singh, NC leader apprised the senior leaders of the party about the repercussions of proposed Ropeway from Katra to Bhawan. He said that the project will directly affect the small businessmen, labourers, Ponywalas, Pithuwalas of Katra and adjoining areas. Mr Singh also demanded that the office of Additional Deputy Commissioner must be opened in Katra keeping in view heavy rush of pilgrims of Mata Shree Vaishano Devi Ji and law and order situation. Sher Singh also strongly objected regarding the last destination of Delhi Katra express way project at Tarakote by passing the Katra city is not acceptable to citizens of Katra because the Katra city will be totally ignored and by passed he said that the express way should be constructed upto Katra new bus stand as a last destination.
Upon this, Rattan Lal Gupta clarified that NC is not against development of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine but is asking for maintaining a trade-off between development and the livelihood of the people because blindly creating edifice and giving two hoots to locals’ livelihood will ultimately devastate socio-economic balance of the people, which should not be the case. He said that BJP government is indifferent towards the local population in J&K and in the race to create records and become popular, it is treating the people badly thus doing injustice. He said that NC is concerned over people who are directly affected with establishment of rope ways.
The Provincial President asserted that nearly 50,000 families ie about 1,50,000 people will be affected if the ropeway is realized as envisaged in its present form. He said that LG administration/ Shrine Board should first come up with rehabilitation programme for pony wallahs, pithu wallahs, and the small traders, who will face the wrath of aforesaid ropeway because until this is pending; there is no logic in starting the work of ropeway. Mr Gupta also justified the demand of the people regarding the establishment of the office of Additional Deputy Commissioner at Katra and Katra express road should be constructed upto new bus stand Katra so that the beautiful city of Katra be saved and may not reined.
Rattan Lal Gupta also raised the issue of neglecting of the far off hamlets in the district. He categorically named Bhomag, Moungri, Arnas, Mahore, Gulabgarh and other far flung areas of district Reasi which were neglected to the hilt under the LG regime as in the name of development. He said that people should understand that it is only NC which knows the issues and demands of the people of far off hamlets as historically it has worked in such areas all through. He asked the people to support NC as always to once again see the all round development and welfare of people without any discrimination on the basis of religion, language or any other distinction.
Sheikh Basher Ahmed, Provincial Secretary JKNC Jammu said people of all religions are associated with Vaishno Devi Yatra and therefore government should tread very carefully while envisaging development in the region. He urged the NC workers to work unitedly at grassroots level to ensure victory of the party in all the ensuing electoral battles being held in the region.
Others who were present in the meeting included: Pardeep Bali, Tariq Butt, Ashwani Kumar (Phulli Shah), Raj Kumar Sharma, Gandharb Singh, Vikramjeet Singh, VIkram Singh YNC, Rovin Kumar and others functionaries, District, Zpne and Blocks.
(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)
