JAMMU: Lashing out severely on BJP-PDP combine for calling off the construction of Artificial Lake in Jammu besides neglect of other coveted projects, Harsh Dev Singh, Chairman JKNPP and former Minister said that the criminal surrender of the Saffron Party over the most coveted project would invite fierce agitation from the people of Jammu.
Briefing media persons here on Sunday, Harsh said that it was highly intriguing to note that Deputy Chief Minister, Nirmal Singh who once had announced early completion of the coveted project as a gift to Jammu had now despicably endorsed Kashmir rulers viewpoint and alleged that the project had turned out a big scam committed by the previous government which needed to be probed.
Harsh divulged that Nirmal Singh instead of standing firm on the long cherished dream of Jammuites, squarely inculpated NC-Congress regime for its failure in handling the project which according to him was started without taking the feasibility into consideration.
Regretting that the artificial lake which would have been destination for millions of people visiting Jammu, Singh said that BJP and Congress were playing the blame game and passing the buck to each other only to hoodwink the people.
“Despite most of the work on artificial lake having been completed at a cost of Rs 58 crores, the much hyped project could not see the light of the day and the deserted look of river Tawi would hold the testimony of BJP’s betrayal in the times to come,” Harsh rued.
Recalling another misadventure of the State government to change the name of Jammu’s Cable Car Project, Harsh accused the servile BJP for being hand in glove with its ally to establish a sectarian homogeneity in Jammu region and appease the secessionists for the loaves of power. He revealed that the J&K Tourism Department had despicably changed the nomenclature of Mubarak Mandi-Bahu Fort Cable Car Project to Shahbad Cable Car project which was highly reprehensible and unacceptable. Dismayed by the recent tender notification of J&K State Cable Car Corporation Limited which was cancelled by the government in the wake of public protest, he said that the works to be executed were categorically solicited for ‘Shahbad Station of Cable Car Project at Shahbad, Jammu’ which was met with massive public anger and revulsion.
“The clandestine change of the nomenclature of Jammu’s revered Cable Car Project had exposed the communal and fascist intentions of the government. The profane alteration had also hurt the sanctity of the Holy Shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddess Mahakali after whom the ropeway had been named”, infuriated Harsh said.
Among those who were present in the press conference include Balwant Singh Mankotia, Yashpaul Kundal, P.K Ganju, Rajesh Padgotra, Anita Thakur, Manju Singh, Kesar Parveen, Advocate Vilakshan Singh, Gagan Pratap Singh, Parshotam Parihar, Raj Kumar Jandial, Rajesh Gondhi, Shanker Singh Chib and Sanjeet Sharma.