Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 23: Provincial President National Conference, Devender Singh Rana on Saturday expressed anguish over continued shelling from across the border and loss of life and property in the forward areas of the Jammu region and sought resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan to bring an end to border skirmishes.
“The fallout of hostilities between New Delhi and Islamabad is being felt in Jammu and Kashmir with people becoming fodder of cannon on the borders”, Mr Rana said while interacting with media persons outside Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu this afternoon.
He visited the hospital immediately after victims of shelling in R S Pura were brought for specialised treatement. The Provincial President said peace on borders is imperative for normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan. He said the border dwellers in Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed an era of peace following ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan during the tenure of the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. He said the former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh gave further impetus to the normalisation of relations, which are needed to be carried forward with a renewed commitment. He said there is no alternative to peace as hostilities have only brought miseries to the people on both sides of border.
Mr Rana said National Conference stands for peace between India and Pakistan, as the scars of border skirmishes are felt only in Jammu and Kashmir and not in Islamabad or New Delhi. He called for sagacious approach to sort out the issues and creating conducive atmosphere for talks.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir had pinned many hopes with the resumption of dialogue at Foreign Secretaries level”, he said and hoped that the leadership of the two countries will not allow situation to go out of hands and utilize every opportunity to herald peace in the region.
Mr Rana expressed concern over the migration of border dwellers, saying continuous firing has created panic in the villages adjacent to International Border. He expressed solidarity with those forced to leave their homes and hearths and made a fervent appeal to the Government for taking all necessary measures to provide respite to them.
Meanwhile, Mr Rana exuded confidence about changing the developmental profile of Nagrota, which he rechristened as Nawan Jammu, by harnessing its huge potential.
“Placed in between River Chenab and River Tawi, the constituency is ideal for being developed as tourism cum economic hub”, Mr Rana said while interacting with groups of people during his extensive tour of the constituency.
For the past three days, Mr Rana has been travelling in the interiors of the constituency, meeting the people even midnight and wee hours. The constituency is humming with activity with youngsters showing immense enthusiasm to the concept of its being transformed into Nawan Jammu.
While unfolding his vision to the inquisitive crowds, Mr Rana said Jammu has already developed and expanded upto Vijaypur. “This side of the winter capital is yet to be explored despite being too close to the city”, he said and added this this aspect has not got the attention it deserved so far. He said all possibilities will be explored to ensure that the Jammu city expands on this side as well, given its topography and strategical importance on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway. He said the topographical advantage is ideal for developing tourism spots, wayside eateries, small industrial units, academic institutions, sports infrastructur and recreational parks.
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