JAMMU: Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) legislators led by State President Sat Sharma on Wednesday met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and sought end to alleged discrimination with Jammu, where 75 per cent population lives in rural areas, and ensure an increase in the annual plan of Jammu district under newly created Capital City Development Plan (CCDP).
The crucial meeting was arranged to avoid any resentment in the DDB meet which is scheduled to be held on March 10 under the chairmanship Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. The differences started, after the government announced Rs 600 crore for Srinagar under CCDP.
“There was resentment among the legislators of Jammu district representing 11 constituencies. We need to take up developmental works on war foot but lack proper financial support which needs to be increased to Rs 25 crores per constituency in Jammu district,” the BJP insiders said.
A BJP legislator, who wished anonymity, said Jammu has been facing discrimination at the financial level and the party has seriously taken up this issue.
“We had decided to raise our voice in DDB meeting before the Chief Minister. However, BJP leadership doesn’t want to send a wrong message out that coalition partners lack understanding,” said the BJP sources.
They said that Srinagar district has seven assembly constituencies and the government announced Rs 600 crores while Jammu district with 11 constituencies– Bishnah, Chhamb, Akhnoor, Nagrota, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu East, Jammu West, March, RS Pura, Suchetgarh, and Raipur Domana– is comparatively given very less amount under annual plan. “The government should increase it to at least Rs 25 crores per constituency of the Jammu district,” they added.
Srinagar district, they said, comes under Municipal Corporation Srinagar and Srinagar Development Authority, while most of the population of Jammu district lives in rural areas.
“Around 75 per cent population lives in rural areas of Jammu district while Srinagar’s areas fall in urban areas. Jammu district lacks in development,” said the sources.
Annual plan of Samba district, they said, which has only two assembly constituencies i.e. Vijaypur and Samba also got Rs 80 crores each under the annual plan.
“If BJP wants to save its face before the public, who have voted them to power, there is need to take up developmental works and increase the annual plan,” said the sources.
They said that the deputation of BJP led by Sat Sharma, included PHE Minister Sham Choudhary, Gagan Bhagat, Krishan Lal, and Rajeev Gupta.