*CM charges PDP, BJP with political gimmick
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today questioned the India’s foreign policy as regards two neighboring countries including Pakistan and China and called upon the Centre Government to act strong with China on Ladakh intrusion issues.
“Dealing on such matters should be unambiguous and similar in case of both Pakistan and China,” he said.
Addressing public meetings at Bani, Lohai Malhar and Duggan areas in Kathua district today, Omar referred to recent incursions made by the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) of China in Ladakh sector saying “if Pakistan had intruded 15 kilometers inside the Indian territory we would have raised lot of hue and cry. We would have severed cricketing ties with the neighboring country, stopped playing football, suspended the peace talks and trade ties. We would have threatened them to vacate our land else we would not resume bilateral relations. And in case of China, we are not adopting tough posturing. We are trying to resolve the issue by sitting across the table”.
He urged the Union Government to give clear cut message to China on intrusion issue that this kind of situations has always put the people, living in frontier areas, under difficulties besides hampering the process of development.
“We would like the Central Government to take up this issue with both China and Pakistan strongly and on same terms so that no such incident takes place in future”, he said and added that the Union Government’s dealing on such issues should be unambiguous and similar vis-a-vis both the neighbours.
The Chief Minister said that people of Jammu, Kashmir, Leh, Kargil and all other areas of the State have given sacrifices to protect and preserve the solidarity, harmony and brotherhood. “They want to be free from such intrusions and live in an atmosphere of calm and peace and carry on day-to-day activities smoothly and without any interference”, he asserted.
Omar said that the State has witnessed militancy during a long period of over 20 years and suffered a lot both in respect of loosing precious human lives and by way of huge damage to infrastructure and economy. He said gun has given us deep wounds and added difficulties in every sphere of life.
“Now we are on the process of restoring peace and tranquillity and a beam of light is in sight at the end of the dark tunnel”, he said elaborating that the Government wants to percolate the benefits of peace holistically and equitably all across the State.
He lauded the people of these areas for keeping the torch of communal harmony and brotherhood lighting even under difficult circumstances. He asked them to maintain and strengthen this characteristic and not to get astray by vested interests who try to divide them on region, religion, creed or caste for selfish ends.
Omar said that some people with vested interests are always out to hatch conspiracies and divide the people through various deceitful means adding that their only goal is to wedge apart different sections of the society and get benefit by this division. “You commonly find such people during the election time. Their only goal is to divide you for vote bank politics”, he said and asked the people to beware of such people and defeat their designs by showing unity and amity at all levels.
Without naming PDP and BJP, Omar, who is also the Working President of National Conference, said that certain politicians despite receiving votes from people to highlight public issues in the Legislature instead indulge in boycott-business for political gimmick. He said voters send them to the Houses to take part in the proceedings and ventilate public problems, seek redressal of difficulties and be instrumental in the development process, but they love to do politics by remaining absent from the right forums.
On the initiatives his Government has taken to check the corruption, ensure transparency, empower general people and bring Government under public scanner, the Chief Minister referred to the historic Public Service Guarantee Act and said that by this legislation his government has made administration legally bound to provide some 70 public services to the people in a time bound manner adding that any failure or delay on this count would make erring officials liable for punishment and fine which shall be deducted from his salary and a part of it paid to the affected consumer.
“This has brought topsy-turvy in the system. Now instead of you paying bribe to get the public services like electricity connection, tap connection, ration card, driving license, revenue papers, FIR copy, antecedence, passport clearance, house building permission and scores of similar other services, the officials involved in delaying or denying such services within the prescribed time frame have to pay fine out of their salaries which shall be given to the affected consumer”, he explained.
The Chief Minister also referred to the empowerment of Panchayats and said that these institutions have already been given powers from 14 departments and the need of the hour is that Panchs and Sarpanchs utilize these powers in full and help cultivate good governance at the grass roots.
He said Panchs and Sarpanchs should not only stick to financial powers alone but exercise the powers they have been given to check the functioning of primary schools, anganwari centres, CAPD ration depots and other similar activities having direct impact on the life of people.
Omar said that his Government has given full powers to general public to question all Government Departments about their performance and functions. “A common man has been entrusted with the power to question the Government on its every action or commission under the Right to Information Act and get answers to his quires”, he said adding that by this initiative entire Government has been brought under full public scanner.
On development of remote and far-flung areas, the Chief Minister said that regular visit to these areas by the political leadership and administrative heads has been made essential. He said right from the time he took over as Chief Minister of the State, he has himself made such visits to far-flung and remote areas as the necessary feature in his working schedule and visit to Lohai-Malhar, Duggan and Bani like backward pockets today, is a part of his this schedule. He said it gives him an opportunity to take first hand appraisal of the difficulties of people and helps to take decisions for the redressal of problems.
Speaking on the demands presented by the people through ‘Spasnamas’ (written welcome notes), Omar announced that the demand for and PDD and PWD sub divisions in Bani, creation of blocks at Lohai-Malhar and Duggan, upgrading the infrastructure of Government school at Lohai would be given top priority. He said the issue of construction of Chatter Gala Tunnel would be taken up with the Central Government. He said the issue of declaring Bani Constituency as Bad-pocket area will be recommend to the Backward Classes Commission.
Omar assured the people that the development process started in rural and backward areas would be carried forward with accelerated pace. He said that the initiative of linking inaccessible areas with main highways and roads is already under focus to generate economic activities in these areas and help holistic development.
The Chief Minister said that he would ask the Police Department to explore the potential of Lohai-Malhar, Bani, Duggan and other areas for on-spot police recruitment drives to provide opportunities to youth of these areas to get employment in police service.
The meetings were addressed by MLC and Provincial President National Conference, Devender Singh Rana, former Deputy Speaker Legislative Assembly, Ghulam Hyder Malik, various Sarpanchs and local leader Bashir Ahmad.
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