JAMMU: Welcoming the Governor’s decision to hold Panchyat elections and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections, former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand while addressing a rally at Indri Manchak near Jourian in Khour constituency on Sunday asked people to participate in these polls so that the problems faced by the common masses at the grass root level can be addressed.
Villagers from over 50 villages assembled at the Indri Manchak village where the local Sarpanhs and Panchs organised a procession upto Jourian demanding redressal of the day-to-day problems being faced by border villagers.
The locals on motorbikes, matadoors and cars held a rally from Indri Manchak to Khorian along with former DyCM Tara Chand and other Congress leaders.
Apprising the Congress leaders about their problems, the border villagers demanded immediate clearance of work-done liability. The villagers have not being paid their salaries by Rural Development, Public Works Department, Flood Control and Irrigation Department for the last over one and half year.
The villagers asked former DyCM Tara Chnad to take up their issue of compensation as three consecutive crops have been destroyed in this region, moreover, there is no ration supply in the area.
The issue of PoK refugees of 1971 qand 1965 was also highlighted by the locals. The PDP-BJP Government dumped the package which was approved during the Congress regime, villagers said and urged the former DyCM to get area denotified as firing range.
After hearing problems being faced by the villagers, Tara Chand assured them that all these issues will be taken up with the Governor for their early redressal.
Others who joined the rally include Shahnawaz, General Secretary PCC, Neeraj Kundan, State President NSUI, Shamsher Singh, Zila Pradhan, Suram Singh, Block Sadar, Manjit Singh, President Youth Congress, Krishna Devi, President Mahila Congress, Jagdish Raj, all Sarpanchs, Panchs and other party delegates.