STATE TIMES NEWS
Shopian: Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chief Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday said the upcoming G20 working group meeting in Kashmir will give a boost to the tourism sector in the valley.
“A working group meeting related to tourism is taking place here which is a good thing. Our state is a tourism state and the G-20 event here will obviously have big leaders from other countries. So, it will give us exposure at the international level,” Azad told reporters after addressing a public meeting here in south Kashmir.
He said the recommendations of the G-20 working group related to tourism in Jammu and Kashmir will give the Union Territory international exposure.
“In the times to come, we will have to be ready for that in terms of infrastructure and other requirements,” he added.
On the ongoing protest by wrestlers in Delhi over alleged sexual harassment of players, the former Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said there should be room for protests in a democracy.
“India is a huge country with a population of 130 crore. Some things happen in some parts of the country and protests take place over that which is right. There should be protests in a democracy,” he said.
Earlier, addressing party workers Ghulam Nabi Azad assured that he will never deceive the people of Jammu and Kashmir and will work in triple shifts to ensure the infrastructure is built at par with modern cities and towns if elected to power.
He lamented on other political parties for cheating people and making false promises which they never fulfilled. He said that there have been a trend in past that local legislatures would visit their constituencies and seek vote from people while making promises but would never return to his people untill next election arrived. “My party has a discipline and I have instructed all my leaders to stay connected with their own people and ensure they are not suffering for genuine issues,” he said.
He reminded people of his era as Chief Minister of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state and said it was during his tenure that Shopian was granted the status of district. He said that his stand is firm and clear on Article 370 and he was the only representative in the Parliament who strongly opposed its abrogation. He said it is the duty and responsibility of his party to take Jammu and Kashmir out of prevailing crisis and create massive job opportunities for its youth.
Azad said DPAP is the only party with vision and mission to represent the aspirations of the people across Jammu and Kashmir. He added that he has provided 200 bedded-capacity district-hospitals in all districts which were otherwise earlier equipped with just 12 bed capacity. He said that he personally took up the matter of halting of fruit-laden trucks with authorities in Delhi and with the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. “I explained to them that halting of trucks was resulting in rotting of fruits and raised the demand that the trucks be treated urgently like ambulances so that growers don’t face losses. After these meetings, fruit growers saw a lot of improvement in hassle-free movement of fruit-laden trucks,” he said.
Among those present on the occasion included Mohd Amin Bhatt Provincial President Kashmir, Javed Hakim Founder Member, Salman Nizami Chief Spokesperson, Adil Qayoom, Qayoom Dar, Adv Saleem Paray DDC, Sujada Bashir Spokesperson, Waseem Yaqoob Spokesperson, Tasleema Akthar Secretary, Ubair Mushtaq Social media incharge, Ashiq Irfan and others.
