STATE TIMES NEWS
AKHNOOR: “Instead of talking on issues related to political consequences of sensitive State like Jammu and Kashmir, facing bullets from Pakistan sponsored militants, whose border people have been forced to migrate often, BJP is escaping from reality only to indulge in petty politics to grab power”, alleged Sham Lal Sharma, senior Congress leader and Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control while addressing an election meeting in Akhnoor.
Sham challenged BJP leadership to peep through Akhnoor constituency for witnessing the development made during his 12 years tenure as MLA and Minister. He said all round development by creating state of art edifice such as connectivity through roads, bridges and cause-ways, provision for imparting best of education by opening of degree college, ayurvedic and nursing training school, new higher secondary schools and up-gradation of old ones with chain of high and primary schools, adequate drinking water schemes, etc. Sham said that in remote areas like Chowki Chowra, where even a Patwari was not accessible, he facilitated the people by providing Sub District status to the area besides Tehsil status to Mandrian and Jourian including Niabats at Devipur, Bhalwal, Maira Mandrian, Kathar, Rah Salyote and Ghar Mazoor.
Accusing BJP leadership of promoting criminalisation, Sham said that he will make Akhnoor a model constituency in the next six years.
Castigating BJP leadership for escapism on issues like Article 370 and Jammu’s Chief Minister, he appealed to Jammu people for taking note of the fact that Modi and other party leaders are busy in making claim of mission 44 plus but reluctant to clear their stand on these issues of prime importance. Sharma asked that what kind of debate BJP wants on Article 370? He also lambasted BJP for clubbing PoJK refugees’ issue with West Pak refugees knowing that West Pak refugees’ citizenship needs constitutional amendment whereas PoJK refugees’ issue could be settled by State Government. Sharma cautioned people to reject the betrayers who sabotaged Jammu’s cause not once but several times in past by promoting their hidden agenda of Hurriyat Conference and NC.
He asked for people’s support to assuage their hardships and bring peace and prosperity in the region.