STATE TIMES NEWS
RAMNAGAR: Accusing the BJP-PDP Government of divesting the rural and far flung areas of their due share of developmental grants, Harsh Dev Singh, JKNPP Chairman and former Minister, expressed grave concern over the pathetic developmental scenario in the such areas.
He was addressing several public meetings during his tour of Mansar, Battal Sail Kori Bair and Jakhenu Villages of Ramnagar Constituency.
Charging the government and the incumbent leadership for gross neglect of remote areas, he lamented that various flagship schemes launched in the past for development and uplift of the rural poor had totally collapsed with people fast losing confidence in the present dispensation.
He regretted that not only had the newly announced schemes failed to take off but the already existing schemes had also become defunct with the government and its ministers totally unaware of the rural woes. He said that rural areas which had overwhelmingly voted BJP to power under the mistaken belief of ‘Achhe Din’ were feeling utterly betrayed and cheated and were repenting their decision.
Making a particular mention of Ramnagar Constituency, Singh said that not only was the condition of roads deplorable, but the people were facing the worst nightmares due to chaotic power supply, ration shortage and drinking water crises in the constituency.
He expressed his dismay over the complaints of several villages who named certain officers refusing to restore their water and power connections without the recommendation of MLA.
Lambasting such officers of PHE, RDD and PDD, Harsh said that such a callous and insensible approach of the authorities concerned had not only resulted in compounding the woes and miseries of common man but had also deprived several villages of basic needs of drinking water and power due to their lack of access to the MLA.
Cautioning the said officers to desist from politicking in violation of Employees conduct rules and Civil Services Regulations, he called upon departmental vigilance officers to take due cognisance of the conduct of such officials.
The meetings were followed by protests against such officers in various villages seeking action against them. The people further protested against political cowardice of BJP which had surrendered before its ally over all Jammu related issues.
Ridiculing an untutored BJP, Singh took a pot shot at its senior leadership for raising several demands during the State executive meeting held on 19th June in Jammu deliriously oblivious of the fact that they themselves were ruling at the Centre and in the State.
He said that despite being in power they were making demands pertaining to early completion of Artificial Tawi Lake, settlement of PoJK and other migrants, action against desecration of temples besides others issues. The imbecile leaders have failed to realize that being in power they had to take decisions and not to make demands, he added. He further said while in Assembly the said leaders had acquiesced in anti Jammu decisions including the rollback on the Industrial policy, imposition of Jazia on Mata Vaishno Devi and Sri Amar Nath Yatra pilgrims, besides ‘no’ to Dogra certificates for Jammu youth they were making foible noises a making up vague statements during their working committee meet merely for public consumption lampooning the BJP for its timidity and subterfuge, he said that there was no need now for it to camouflage its intent as the people had recognised its real face and character and would give it a befitting reply at the appropriate time. He said that BJP has last the confident of both the rural and urban populace.
Prominent among others who spoke during the rallies included Manju Singh, Sham Lal Khajuria, Gyan Singh, Charan Dass, Shankar Singh, Manohar Lal, Beli Ram,Parveen Kumar, Dharam Singh Bittu, Rajesh Sharma, Purshotam Singh, Makhan Lal, Karnail Singh, Raghubir Singh, Sugar Din, Sukhjit, Angrez Singh, Tara Singh, Purshotam Kumar, Hans Raj and Mohd Bashir.
