PDP demands separate divisions for Pir Panchal, Chenab Valley

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 9: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday reiterated its demand for the creation of separate divisions in Pir Panchal and Chenab Valley, stating that the Government cannot adopt different yardsticks for different regions of the State.
Addressing a press conference at party head office here, PDP vice president, Abdul Hamid Chowdhary stated that the party welcomed the Government decision of granting divisional status to Ladakh and that it hopes that the decision will pave a new way in taking the region towards the new horizons of development and tranquility.
Chowdhary however said that the PDP has been demanding since long that Pir Panchal and Chenab Valley too should be granted the Divisional status in a same way as has been accorded to Ladakh. He said that Pir Panchal and Chenab Valley should also be given the Divisional status so that these areas get equal opportunities of growth and development. “There are several places in Pir Panchal and Chenab Valley that have been left in lurch some places and people have to walk through the hills for days together, and have no road connectivity at all. There are areas in Pir Panchal and Chenab Valley which remain cut-off from the outer world during major portions of winter,’ Chowdhary said.
He added that Divisional status to Pir Panchal and Chenab Valley will address the growing crises of joblessness in these areas and will provide new avenues of employment to the youth of these distinct regions of the State.
PDP leaders F C Bhagat, general secretary, Master Tasdiq Hussain Ex. MLC, R K Bali State secretary, Deepak Handa, State secretary, Rajinder Manhas district President, Jammu Urban, Balbir Singh media incharge, Sukhwinder Singh Chairman OBC Cell and others were present in the press conference.