STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Accusing BJP of betraying Jammuites, former Deputy Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Tara Chand on Monday said that the coalition government in the State has played a cruel joke with the farming community by compensating them with meager amount ranging from Rs. 32 to Rs. 113 for the crop damages.
Tara Chand was addressing a workers rally in border village Garad Sainth in connection with his mass contact programme.
He said, “More than 70 per cent population in Jammu and Kashmir is dependent on agriculture and the compensation cheques distributed by the state government ranging from Rs. 32 to Rs. 113 for the agricultural losses on account of floods in Jammu and Kashmir is a cruel joke.
He added that people had suffered losses worth thousands of rupees as floods in river Chenab battered thousands of acres of farmland whereas the state government, by assessing the losses in between Rs. 32 and
Rs. 113 has rubbed salt into the wounds of aggrieved farmers.
“Where are the ‘so called’ saviours (BJP leadership) of Jammu province now who had promised lot during campaigning for the Legislative Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir? Moreover when the ‘Achhe Din’ of public will come?” Tara Chand questioned.
Tara Chand also raised doubt over the criminal silence of BJP leadership on the deliberate shelving of various developmental projects earmarked for Jammu region including the artificial lake project and AIIMS.
“BJP should clear its stand on AIIMS as people of Jammu region will never forgive them for their deceiving tactics. Some BJP leaders are openly supporting the issue of setting up of AIIMS in Jammu while others at the helm of affairs have not uttered even a single word as of now which is adding to the frustration of Jammuites”, he added.
Taking a jibe at the local BJP MLA, Tara Chand said, the local MLA needs to focus on few developmental works as most of the development projects were taken up and completed during his (Tara Chand’s) tenure but if the repairs and renovation works will be overlooked, the Congress will be left with no other option than to occupy the streets and roads to protest.
Senior Congress leader also visited areas adjoining River Chenab where thousands of Kanals of land has been damaged in the floods that occurred in September last year. People apprised him of the difficulties being faced by them and also apprehended that if timely work is not started their fields may further get damaged in coming monsoon season. Tara Chand while responding to the demands of local populace, called the senior officials of administration as well as Flood Control Department and demanded that works adjoining Chenab be immediately initiated so that fields and lives of farming community could be saved.
