Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Mar 17: Demanding IIM for Rajouri and RUSA Engineering College for Poonch, Former Minister, Member Legislative Assembly Darhal and senior PDP leader Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali has said that when AIIMS and IIT are being opened in Jammu, Government should take steps to remove sub regional disparity and open announced IIM and Engineering College in Pir Panjal area. He also demanded immediate functioning of Medical Colleges and construction of Tunnel on Mughal Road.
While talking to deputations from Poonch and Rajouri, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali said that people of Pir Panjal area were always neglected when it comes to the matter of getting share. He said that this created trust deficit among the people of this area which need to be seen and the problems of the area redressed.
Making a call to end this sub regional disparity, Zulfkar said that when IIT and AIIMS are already being opened in Jammu, the other institutions must go for another districts and Pir Panjal area is first claimant because the area was always neglected a lot in providing due justice. He said that he had raised the issue in State Cabinet and he will continue to raise issue at every quarter for ending sub regional disparity.
Terming the demand as most genuine, Zulfkar said that the people of Rajouri-Poonch have lost everything during 3 wars with Pakistan in 1947, 1965 and 1971 and during militancy period. He said that before 1947, people of the area used to visit Mir Pur and Lahore area to receive education but after partition the area become land locked with LoC on one side and Pir Panjal mountains on the another. He said keeping in view the geographical disadvantage, IIM must be opened in Rajouri for providing the localite students technical education.
While demanding opening of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) Collage at Poonch, Former Minister said that the era of alienation is over and they will no more tolerate regional disparity with Pir Panjal region. He said that these institutes are meant for region and the province is comprised of 10 districts and there should be balanced distribution of things in all.
Meanwhile, Zulfkar said that there is delay in opening of 5 Medical Colleges already announced by Government and necessary steps should be taken to start these Colleges in the interest of the people of this state. He said these these Colleges were announced three years ago but still no class work has been initiated in any College. He said that these Colleges are of important nature and since land has also been acquired and now classes need to be started following release of grants.
Demanding Tunnel on Mughal Road, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali said that Mughal Road is alternate of Jammu-Srinagar Highway but the road remains closed for about 3 months every year which do not fulfil objective of making this route as alternate highway between two divisions.
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