Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 6: National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah today expressed concern over intermittent ceasefire violations, saying recurrence of shelling has made the life of people living along Line of Control and International Border miserable.
“Bloodshed is no solution to problems; peace has to be given a chance, as the people of the region were deeply yearning for it”, Dr Abdullah said while addressing party workers at the border township of Mendhar in Poonch district, adding that the people in forward areas were living under constant threat and perpetual fear.
Dr Abdullah, accompanied by Provincial President Devender Singh Rana, is currently on a four-day visit of the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
The National Conference President expressed solidarity with suffering people and called for effective measures to instil sense of security among them, as continuous shelling has brought the normal activity to grinding halt. “The farmers are not venturing out to their fields, children are deprived of their education and the people are forced to leave their homes and hearths for safety”, he said and asked how long shall border dwellers remain on the receiving end.
Responding to complaints about administrative apathy towards the suffering population, Dr Abdullah said the Coalition Government cannot abdicate its responsibility in mitigating the problem in terms of timely medical support and necessary assistance to shelling victims. “True the governance is at the lowest ebb, the challenge unfolded by the man-made tragedy is to be met”, he said while expressing solidarity with those braving the brunt.
The National Conference President also expressed concern over anti-youth policies being pursued by the PDP-BJP combine, saying screening test of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers was an attempt to dislodge and render jobless a huge number of educated young people for ulterior motives. He said the contribution of ReTs cannot be undermined as they heralded on the scene at the most crucial juncture when the entire educational system had gone haywire due to disturbed condition.
He said that instead of encouraging the ReTs, the Coalition Government was demoralising them, which is bound to have adverse impact on the educational system in rural and far off areas. He cautioned the Government against confrontational attitude and said it should instead concentrate on governance and meeting the aspirations of the people.
The National Conference President called upon the cadre to close their ranks and work for steering the state out of the uncertainty and difficult situation. He said governance-deficit had compounded the problems of common people, especially in far off areas and there is need for the party workers to identify these and project at appropriate quarters to seek redressal. He said National Conference cannot remain a mute spectator to apathetic and most deplorable attitude of the Coalition Government, as far as the problems of the people were concerned, and it will perform its role in highlighting the gray areas as a responsible opposition party. He said his party will fight for the rights of people and shall always remain in the forefront to offer any sacrifice.
Responding to the issues raised by the people during one to one interaction since this morning, Dr Abdullah asked Javed Rana, the local MLA, to take up these at appropriate level for earnest redressal.
Rana assured that necessary measures will be taken on immediate basis for laying a Children Park and constructing a bridge at Manakote.
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